Description of Historic Place

The Rideau Hall secondary gates and fences surround and clearly define the twenty-five hectare grounds of the Rideau Hall and Landscaped Grounds National Historic Site of Canada, the home of the Governor General. The five sets of gates and two thousand metres of perimeter fencing consist of low, stone walls, concrete, classically-detailed piers and black painted railings, hardware and light-fixtures. The designation is confined to the footprint of the gates and fences.

Heritage Value

The Rideau Hall secondary gates and fences are Recognized Federal Heritage Buildings because of their historical associations, and architectural and environmental values.

Historical Value
The Rideau Hall secondary gates and fences, erected in the 1920s and 1930s, are associated with the grounds of the vice-regal estate of the Governor General. Of a type and completeness rare in Canada, the entire ensemble contains a rich physical evolution of natural and cultural elements developed by a succession of Governors-General.

Architectural Value
In both very good aesthetic design and function, the Rideau Hall secondary gates and fences are distinguished as the outer defining element of the vice-regal estate in the British landscape tradition. Characterized by concrete, classically detailed piers, low, stone walls and decorative cast-and wrought-iron work, the gates and fences provide an appropriate, designed secure boundary to the grounds of the Rideau Hall Complex. The design was modelled on the main gate, designed by Frederick Preston Rubidge in the late 1860s.

Environmental Value
The Rideau Hall secondary gates and fences maintain an unchanged relationship to the site at the Rideau Hall Complex and reinforce the picturesque character of the vice-regal estate. The five secondary gates and over 2000 meters of perimeter fences are easily recognized as the demarcation line of the Rideau Hall Complex.

Sources: Robert Hunter, Rideau Hall Outbuildings and Grounds, Ottawa, Ontario, Federal Heritage Buildings Review Office, Building Report, 86-024; Secondary Gates and Fences, Ottawa, Ontario, Heritage Character Statement, 86-024.

Character-Defining Elements

The character-defining elements of the Rideau Hall secondary gates and gences should be respected.

The very good aesthetic and functional design and good materials and craftsmanship, for
example: the proportion, scale, and detail of the five secondary gates and perimeter fences as copied from the main gate; the decorative, cast concrete piers and low stone walls; the decorative cast-and wrought-iron work; the hardware and fixtures.

The manner in which the Rideau Hall secondary gates and fences maintain an unchanged relationship to the site, reinforce the picturesque character of the vice-regal estate setting and are well-known landmarks within the immediate area, as evidenced by: the ongoing relationship of the gates and fences to the estate grounds; the scale, design and materials of the gates and fences, which contribute to the picturesque aesthetic of the associated landscape and the immediate neighbourhood; the high visibility of the gates and fences from outside of the grounds and their conspicuous identity within the immediate community.

Heritage Character Statement

Disclaimer - The heritage character statement was developed by FHBRO to explain the reasons for the designation of a federal heritage building and what it is about the building that makes it significant (the heritage character). It is a key reference document for anyone involved in planning interventions to federal heritage buildings and is used by FHBRO in their review of interventions.

The secondary gates and fences were erected in the 1920s and 1930s under the auspices of the Public Works Construction Act, Thomas W. Fuller, architect, Public Works; being modeled on original design details used by Frederick Preston Rubidge on the main gate in the latter 1860s. Economic considerations necessitated the use of materials which are in need of renewal, being less permanent than those employed for the main gate.

The secondary gates and fences surround the 25 hectare Rideau Hall estate at Government House. The property is currently administered by the National Capital Commission. See FHBRO Building Report 86-24 (4b).

Reason for Designation

The secondary gates and perimeter fences at Rideau Hall were designated Recognized because of their very good proportion, scale, detail and functional design as copied from the main gate; their unchanged integrity between the structures and the associated landscape; their role reinforcing the present heritage character of the area; and their conspicuous identity within the community.

In both aesthetic design and function, the secondary gates and fences are distinguished as the outer defining element of the vice-regal estate in the British landscape tradition. Of a type and completeness rare in Canada, the entire ensemble contains a rich physical evolution of natural and cultural elements brought by a succession of Governors-General.

The five secondary gates and over 2000 m of perimeter fences clearly demarcate this well-known landmark, providing an appropriate aesthetically pleasing security aspect while also contributing to the cultural heritage of the grounds and its immediate neighbourhood.

Character Defining Elements

The heritage character of the secondary gates and fences is determined by its form, its function, and its setting. Particularly significant elements include the cast concrete piers (pillars), the cast- and wrought-iron work, the hardware and fixtures, the estate grounds inside the fencing, and the numerous vistas of fence and grounds as viewed from the outside.

Owing to the relatively recent date and economical materials used for the piers, the heritage significance of the materials themselves may be subordinate to the overall design and character. Replacing badly deteriorated elements with matching new work would be fully compatible with the heritage character of the secondary gates and fences when individual components become deteriorated beyond repair. It is recommended that pier replacement, as well as all other replacement work, be carried out conservatively, to ensure the longest feasible life for the 1920s and 1930s materials. Likewise, repair of iron work in place is preferrable to full scale dismantling and extensive replacement, in order to provide maximum protection to the original materials. Comprehensive analysis is also recommended in order to establish the original composition of all elements subject to repair or replacement.