Distillery Historic District / Gooderham & Worts National Historic Site

In 1832, English immigrants and brothers-in-law James Worts and William Gooderham built a 22-meter brick windmill on the edge of Toronto Bay that soon became a symbol of the young city.

Distillery Historic District / Gooderham & Worts National Historic Site
Recognized as a National Historic Site, Toronto's Distillery Historic District contains over 40 Victorian buildings that document the city's and the nation's architectural and industrial heritage. Between the 1830s and 1890s, the firm of Gooderham & Worts grew from a small windmill in the wilderness to the largest distillery in the British Empire and, for a time, in the world. The 20th century brought war, prohibition of alcohol, globalization, decline, and, finally, the area's rebirth as a vibrant arts and cultural district.
In 1832, English immigrants and brothers-in-law James Worts and William Gooderham built a 22-metre brick windmill on the edge of Toronto Bay that soon became a symbol of the young city.
Worts brought 20 years' experience as a miller, while Gooderham contributed most of the capital and business acumen. After the untimely death of Worts in 1834, Gooderham continued on alone. Steam soon replaced unreliable wind power. In 1837, Gooderham added a distillery to the gristmill, launching the business that would become the foundation of several fortunes and transform Toronto's waterfront. In 1845, Gooderham's nephew, James Gooderham Worts, became a partner in the firm and in 1856 Gooderham's son, George, also joined the partnership.
The firm thrived under their energetic leadership. A five-storey limestone mill and distillery, designed by David Roberts Sr., opened in early 1861, increasing production capacity from 80 000 to two million gallons per year. This Stone Distillery is now the oldest and largest heritage building in the District. The windmill was demolished in the early 1860s to make way for the Cooperage, Maltings and other redbrick buildings along the west side of Trinity Street.

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