The Christie’s house, “Sandolphon”, was built about 1898, by Eldridge Christie. The decorative and picturesque roofline with the gables and towers are in the Queen Anne style.

The Christie’s family lived here until 1909. Eldridge Christie, a renowned carriage builder, undoubtedly realized that the days of his trade were numbered with the coming of the motor vehicle. So, around 1909, he moved his business to Ashcroft. There he built and repaired horse drawn coaches for the famous B.X. Stagelines. The Lady Dufferin, built in 1910 by Eldrige, is the most famous of the B.X. Stage coaches, having run regular service between Lillooet and Ashcroft, when it was known as B.C. Express Company Number 14. It can still be seen on display at the Red Coach Inn, 100 mile House, B.C.

Christie’s Fort Street home remained in the family until 1948 and later was made over into apartments. When it seemed demolition might be inevitable, the house was purchased by local business interests. It formed the anchor for the major structural additions for the Christie’s Carriage House Pub where it perpetuates the historic theme with carriages on display.

The 1905 Rockaway Coupe, on display by the Pub’s front entrance, was restored by carriage builders at Gananoque Carriage Company in Ontario. It has 5 seats (2 vis-a-vis, 1 folding) and 3 drop windows. It is one of the few hardtop carriages in B.C. Most of the carriages built in Victoria at the turn of the century were soft top carriages.