Port Kells


Port Kells is a neighbourhood of Guildford, a town centre in Surrey, British Columbia. The neighbourhood is located in the northeastern sector of Guildford, and is adjacent to the Fraser River and west of Walnut Grove, Langley. It has two major components: a large rural southern portion located south of Highway 1, and a section north of the highway that consists mostly of industrial parks.

History

Port Kells was founded in 1889 as the Township of Port Kells, and was established by two Irish pioneers, both named Henry Kells, though unrelated. It was originally intended as a port and was laid out in 1890 by the Royal Engineers.
In the early 1960s, the Trans-Canada Highway was built through Port Kells. Since the 1970s, the highway has provided a neat distinction between the industrial northern portion and the rural and residential southern portion of the community.

Development

Industrial developments in North Port Kells occurred after 1970. In 2005, plans surfaced for development of the neighbourhoods southern portion, which called for a mix of residential, commercial, and industrial uses from its present rural condition.