Clayburn

Clayburn is a historic village in Abbotsford founded by a fireclay company and home to period buildings from its industrial era. Set at the foot of Sumas Mountain, the site preserves original brick houses and community structures that reflect how the settlement was built and organized.

The Vancouver Fireclay Company founded this village in 1905 as an industrial settlement connected to their brick production operations. The company constructed homes and facilities between 1905 and 1908 on the south side of Clayburn Road to house workers and their families.

The village museum displays objects from the 1920s and 1930s, telling the story of families who lived and worked here during the settlement's early decades. The exhibits help visitors understand what daily life looked like in this industrial community.

The village is easy to explore on foot since the main buildings are clustered together in close proximity. Visitors should take time to examine the old industrial architecture and community spaces closely to understand how the settlement was originally planned and laid out.

The name combines Clay with Burn, a Scottish word for a small stream, referring to the waterway that flows from Sumas Mountain toward the Fraser River. This naming choice reflects the Scottish heritage of early workers and settlers in the area.