History of 323 George Street Building

Mansions on George Condominiums are located in the heart of downtown Cobourg. The Victorian Heritage Town Hall – Victoria Hall is one block north of the Beach and Harbour/Marina and our condominiums are 50 yards further North up George Street. Mansions on George occupies the site of the former Thomas Gillbard School, originally built in 1906 as the Central School for the whole town of Cobourg.

Originally called the Consolidated Public School or Central School, Thomas Gillbard school was built in 1906 to consolidate and replace six small school-rooms and school houses in the central Cobourg area, that had seen better days. It was made possible, said a plaque in the front hall, “through the munificent benefaction of Thomas Gillbard,” a Cobourg merchant who, though childless, took a great interest in young people, particularly in their education. He spent over 40 years (1864-1907) on the former Cobourg School Board, 12 of those as chairman.

Thomas Gillbard arrived in Cobourg in 1847 from North Petherwinn, Cornwall, England, where he had been born in 1826. In 1848, he married Selina Floyd, also a Cornwall native, and they established their home at the corner of King and Bagot Streets. Mr. Gillbard, it seems, enjoyed considerable financial success in his clothing business, first located on Division Street near Covert. Later, he purchased and relocated to the Retallick Block located at 84 King St. W.

He also served on the Victoria and Albert College Board; in 1873, he was elected to Cobourg’s Town council, and later he served as town treasurer. He was a devout Methodist and served his church as Sunday school superintendent and lay preacher for many years.

Despite its architecture – harkening back to the days of ancient Greece and Rome – it was a modern building, and well constructed of red brick on a stone foundation. A gala opening was planned for Sept. 2, 1907, and Mr. Gillbard was to be an honoured guest. Sadly, this worthy citizen died only five days before the ceremony. It was too late to change printed programs, which featured his name as a participant.

In 1967, the school was renamed to honour Thomas Gillbard.