BOULT, Stephen (c. 1815-1875), a successful architect of Guelph, Ont., was born in Berkshire, England and emigrated to Canada before 1855 and '...having for thirty years been practically engaged in the Building business and several years superintendent of works in England and Wales under responsible architects' (Guelph Public Library, Goldie Family Scrapbook, c. 1861). This previous experience no doubt proved useful in 1856 when he submitted an entry in the competition for the Market House in Guelph, Ont., but his proposal was set aside in favour of the design by William Thomas of Toronto (Tri-Weekly Advertiser [Guelph], 6 June 1856, 2). As partner in the firm of Boult & Ryan, Builders, he was awarded the contract to enlarge the court room in the Wellington County Court House, Guelph in 1856-57, and by 1861 he was advertising himself as an architect and builder in that town, and he owned a completely equipped joinery shop that could fabricate doors, window sash, blinds and moulding which he presumably used in some of his designs for buildings. While many of his commissions were for alterations and improvements to existing buildings, he is best known for the commendable Gothic design for Trinity Congregational Church, Norfolk Street, Guelph, 1867 (demolished). He died in Guelph on 5 June 1875, and left an estate of $6,000 (OA, Wills, Wellington Co. 1004; inf. Gordon Couling).
GUELPH
ST. JOSEPH'S ROMAN CATHOLIC HOSPITAL, for the Sisters of Charity, Hospital Street, 1862 (Canadian Freeman [Toronto], 9 Oct. 1862, 2, descrip.)
ARMSTRONG, McCRAE & CO. WOOLEN FACTORY, Huskisson Street at Surrey Street, 1867 (Guelph Herald, 26 Feb. 1867, 2, descrip.)
GUELPH MERCURY BUILDING, McDonnell Street, 1867 , demol.(Guelph Daily Mercury, 30 Oct. 1867, 1, descrip.)
LOWER WYNDHAM STREET, at Market Square, a commercial block for John Hogg, 1867 (Guelph Daily Mercury, 30 Oct. 1867, 1,; 29 Oct. 1868, 2, descrip.)
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, Norfolk Street at Liverpool Street, 1867, demol. (Guelph Daily Mercury, 30 Oct. 1867, 1, descrip.)
ST ANDREW'S PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, Norfolk Street at Suffolk Street, a new gallery and interior alterations, 1867 (Guelph Daily Mercury, 30 Oct. 1867, 1)
UPPER WYNDHAM STREET, a commercial block adjoining the Alma Block,, 1868 (Guelph Daily Mercury, 9 April 1868, 1)
QUEBEC STREET, at Norfolk Street, a commercial block for George Howard, 1868 (Guelph Daily Mercury, 9 April 1868, 1)
NORFOLK STREET, at Yarmouth Street, a brick cottage for Charles Raymond, 1868 (Guelph Daily Mercury, 9 April 1868, 1)
GUELPH BREWERY, Essex Street at Fleet Street, a malt house for Thomas Holliday, 1868 (Guelph Daily Mercury, 9 April 1868, 1)
VICTORIA HOTEL, Wyndham Street, enlargement and alterations, 1868 (Guelph Daily Mercury, 6 July 1868, 2)
UPPER WYNDHAM STREET, a commercial block for Henry Metcalf, 1868 (Guelph Daily Mercury, 17 Dec. 1868, 1, descrip.)
YARMOUTH STREET, conversion of the old Knox Presbyterian Church for Charles Raymond's Sewing Machine Factory, 1869 (Guelph Daily Mercury, 23 April 1869, 1)
QUEBEC STREET, a house for the architect, 1869 (Guelph Daily Mercury, 23 April 1869, 1)
DUBLIN STREET, residence for Samuel Wright, 1869 (Guelph Daily Mercury, 23 April 1869, 1)
UPPER WYNDHAM STREET, new factory for a sewing machine company 'adjacent to Henry Berry's store', 1869 (Guelph Daily Mercury, 23 April 1869, 1)
UPPER WYNDHAM STREET, commercial block for Henry Berry, 'adjacent to Massie's Block', 1869 (Guelph Daily Mercury, 23 April 1869, 1)
SPRING STREET, cottage for the Mickle sisters, 'on Mitchell's Hill, near Dr. Clarke's house, facing the Speed River', 1869 (Guelph Daily Mercury, 23 April 1869, 1)
MARKET HOUSE, new dome and other repairs, 1869 (Guelph Daily Mercury, 18 May 1869, 1)
GUELPH TOWNSHIP, school house in School Section No. 5, Paisley Block, 1872 (Guelph Evening Mercury, 29 June 1872, 1)
ELORA ROAD, addition to residence for George Skinner, 1873 (Guelph Evening Mercury, 14 July 1873, 1, t.c.)
LONDON ROAD, residence for George Murton, 1873 (Guelph Evening Mercury, 5 Sept. 1873, 1, t.c.)
GUELPH TOWNSHIP, farm residence for James Dowie, Concession 4, Lot 3, 1873 (Guelph Evening Mercury, 15 Sept. 1873, 1, t.c.)
McQUILLAN'S BLOCK, Upper Wyndham Street, 1874 (Guelph Daily Mercury, 25 Nov. 1874, 1, descrip.)
ARTHUR STREET, residence for Mr. Smith, 1874 (Guelph Daily Mercury, 25 Nov. 1874, 1)
PAISLEY STREET, at Glasgow Street, residence for Walter H. Cutten, 1874 (Guelph Daily Mercury, 25 Nov. 1874, 2, descrip.)
NORWICH STREET, at Norfolk Street, a residence for the architect, in the 'ornamental domestic Gothic style', 1874 (Guelph Daily Mercury, 25 Nov. 1874, 2)
ELSEWHERE
ARTHUR, ONT., Registry Office, 1872 (Wellington County Archives, Minutes of County Council, 63rd Session, 1 Oct. 1872, 4)