Cliff, John | Biographical Dictionary of Architects in Canada

CLIFF, John (fl. 1826-1853) was first recorded in Montreal in 1826 when he was one of six competitors who sbumitted plans for the new Gaol at MONTREAL, QUE. (Montreal Herald, 25 Feb. 1826, 2). In 1830 a marriage was noted between Miss Charlotte Lee and 'John Cliff, joiner' (Canadian Courant [Montreal], 7 April 1830, 2). The Montreal office of the Archives Nationales du Quebec holds an original watercolour drawing signed 'J.C.' showing a proposed three storey house for an unidentified client dated March 1832 (ANQM, CD2/1625). In 1984 the Canadian Centre for Architecture was offered (but declined) a written contract document for a store in Notre Dame Street, MONTREAL, QUE. dated 7 April 1836 and signed by 'John Cliff, Architect & Surveyor'. By 1847 Cliff had relocated in Quebec City where he is listed as 'architect & etc.' and designed 'Beauvoir', an exceptional country villa in the Regency style with a symmetrical facade and centre hall plan. By 1853 he was again in Montreal, but no information has been found on his activity after this date.

MONTREAL, QUE., residence for Francis Perry, 1835 (dwgs. ANQM, CD2/399)
MONTREAL, QUE., Royal Institution for the Advancement of Learning, s.e. side of the yard 'in the rear of the new Market Place', 1840 (ANQM, T.J. Pelton, notaire, No. 1052, 25 April 1840)
MONTREAL, QUE., two houses adjoining the St. Lawrence Brewery, St. Charles Borromee Street at Lagauchetiere Street, 1843 (ANQM, William Ross, notaire, No. 648, 9 March 1843)
QUEBEC CITY, QUE., Protestant School for the St. Louis District, Artillery Street, 1848-49 (Quebec Mercury, 2 Jan. 1849, 3, t.c.; L. Noppen & M. Grignon, l'art de l'architecte - Three Centuries of Architectural Drawing in Quebec City, 1983, 228, illus. & descrip.)
QUEBEC CITY, QUE., St. Matthew's Anglican Church, St. Jean Street, 1848; altered and enlarged in 1870 by W.T. Thomas (L. Noppen et al, Quebec - trois siecles d'architecture, 1979, 172, illus.; H. Bergevin, Eglises Protestantes, 1981, 73, illus.)
QUEBEC CITY, QUE., residence on the Grande Allee for Henry LeMesurier, 1849; demol. c. 1929 (C. Blanchet, Decouvir la Grande Allee, 1984, 177, illus.)
SILLERY, QUE., 'Beauvoir', a country villa for Henry LeMesurier, St. Louis Road, 1849 (F. Gagnon-Pratte, Les Villas, 1980, 190-4, illus.; J. Wright, Architecture of the Picturesque in Canada, 1984, 124, illus.)
MONTREAL, QUE., construction of a store and alterations of halls at the Bonsecours Market, 1853 (ANQM, William Ross, notaire, No. 4892, 12 April 1853)