Description of Historic Place

Located in the gorge of the Prince of Wales Bastion at the Citadel of Québec National Historic Site of Canada, Building 15, also called the Former Powder Magazine, the Museum of the Royal 22 Regiment and Canadian Forces Museum, is a solid looking, rectangular masonry structure reinforced by five large buttresses on each of its two side elevations and capped by a steep gabled roof. The entrance faces south and there are windows in the upper part of the gable ends of the roof. The designation is confined to the footprint of the building.

Heritage Value

Building 15 is a Classified Federal Heritage Building because of its historical associations, and its architectural and environmental value.

Historical Value
Building 15, now the Museum of the Royal 22 Regiment, also known as the Canadian Forces Museum, is associated with the defense of New France during the period of the Royal Government, from 1663 to 1759. The building is one of several constructed to enclose the southwest corner of Québec during the campaign of 1745 to 1759, the first major step toward establishing a permanent system of defense in Québec. It is one of the few buildings from the French Regime still standing in Québec.

Architectural Value
Building 15 is an outstanding example of a magazine structure based on the standard design developed by Vauban, King Louis the XIV’s military engineer in the 17th century. It is distinguished by its design as a defensive work and its high quality fieldstone construction. Chaussegros de Léry was involved in all of the major public works projects approved by the Royal Government for 40 years in New France where he was the most prolific engineer. His many projects bear witness to his great expertise in military engineering. Building 15 is one of only two buildings designed by Chaussegros de Léry that is still standing.

Environmental Value
The location of Building 15 was chosen based on the principle that a magazine had to be built a certain distance from the town and in the gorge of a bastion. Located in the gorge of the Prince of Wales Bastion as part of the Citadel of Québec, Building 15 reinforces the defensive military character of the site. Owing to its value as an historic building from the French Regime and because it houses the Museum of the Royal 22 Regiment it is very well known. It is one of the main buildings in the Prince of Wales Bastion and one of the two structures mentioned by name on the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada plaque commemorating the Citadel.

Sources: Rhona Godspeed, The Citadel, Québec, Québec, Federal Heritage Building Report 88-161;Former Powder Magazine (Building No. 15), Museum of the Royal 22 Regiment, The Citadel, Québec, Québec, Heritage Character Statement, 88-161.

Character-Defining Elements

The character-defining elements of Building 15 should be respected.

Its standard magazine design, construction and high quality craftsmanship and materials such as: its rectangular form and solid masonry structure with side elevations bolstered by five large buttresses or counterforts and three additions; its steep gable roof finished with sheet copper with batten seams; its entrance and windows in the north and south gable walls, with iron shutters on some of the small pane windows; the fieldstone masonry of the main building and the regularly coursed masonry of the three additions; the interior walls and barrel vault that have been covered with a protective coating; its elements related to the original function of the building such as iron doors, iron shutters etc..

The manner in which Building 15 reinforces the defensive military character of its fort setting located in at the Québec Citadel.

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 Former Powder Magazine was constructed in 1750 under the French Regime by Gaspard-Joseph Chaussegros de Léry. It continued to be used as a powder magazine under the British Regime, although vents were pierced in the side walls to improve the ventilation, and a traverse was built along the south elevation so that the gable window could be kept open. At some point, a small vestibule and an addition were built on the north side. Between 1933 and 1935, the protective wall was demolished. Since 1949, the Former Powder Magazine has housed the Museum of the Royal 22e Régiment. The structure and layout of the building have been preserved. The Former Powder Magazine is located in the gorge of the Prince of Wales Bastion. The building is part of the Citadel of Québec, a National Historic Site. It is owned by the Department of National Defence. See FHBRO Report 88-161.

Reasons for Designation
The Former Powder Magazine, now the Museum of the Royal 22e Régiment, has been designated “Classified” because of its historical significance, its fine design, the reputation of its designer and its environmental value.

Building No. 15 is associated with the defence of New France during the period of the Royal Government, from 1663 to 1759. The building is one of several constructed to enclose the southwest corner of Québec during the campaign of 1745 to 1759, the first major step toward establishing a permanent system of defence in Québec. It is important to note that it is one of the few buildings from the French Regime still standing in Québec.

The Former Powder Magazine is an outstanding example of a magazine based on the standard design developed by Vauban in the 1 7th century. It has retained most of its essential features, including the rectangular plan, the thick masonry walls, the counterforts, the gabled roof and the barrel vault. During the 40 years he spent in New France, Chaussegros de Léry was involved in all the major public works projects approved by the Royal Government. He was far and away the most prolific engineer in New France, and his many projects bear witness to his great expertise in military engineering. The Former Powder Magazine at the Citadel is one of only two buildings designed by Chaussegros de Léry that are still standing; the other is the New Barracks.

Owing to its value as an historic building from the French Regime and because it houses the Museum of the Royal 22e Régiment, Building No. 15 is very well known. It is one of the main buildings in the Prince of Wales Bastion and one of the two structures mentioned by name on the HSMBC plaque commemorating the Citadel (located near the Dalhousie Gate).

Character Defining Elements
The heritage character of the Former Powder Magazine resides in its functional design and its design as a defensive work, the building materials and techniques used, and the building’s relationship with its location.

Rectangular in form, the powder magazine is a solid masonry structure the side elevations of which are bolstered by five large buttresses or counterforts. It is capped with a steep gable roof finished with sheet copper with batten seams. The original entrances and the windows in the north and south gable walls are still intact, although they are partially hidden by the additions. Some iron shutters still grace the small-pane windows. This architectural arrangement defines the heritage character of the building and must be respected.

The three additions, which slightly altered the original shape of the Former Powder Magazine, stand out because the regularly-coursed masonry contrasts with the fieldstone masonry of the main building. The traverse along the south elevation and the vents piercing the side walls are examples of the improvements to the building’s ventilation made during the British Regime. These elements are part of the historic texture of the building and must be preserved.

In order to preserve the integrity of the Former Powder Magazine, no new openings should be made. The metal elements (old shutters and ironwork) should be rust treated. New joints and replacement stones should blend seamlessly into the historical texture of the walls, in keeping with the original design (material, colour, profile and bond). The style and manufacture of the windows, doors and roof should reflect the intentions of the designer so as to preserve the historical coherence of the building.

The original structure of the Former Powder Magazine is unchanged, but the interior has been adapted to its new use as the Museum of the Royal 22e Régiment. The walls and barrel vault have been covered with a protective coating. The old walls should not be pierced for exhibit purposes; it would be better if the museum installations were kept separate from the historical fabric of the building (avoid using the windows as showcases, for example). Elements related to the original use of the building (iron shutters, etc.) should also be preserved, and items that are in storage (iron doors, for example) should be reinstalled to bear witness to the original function of the building. Good building ventilation is desirable in order to preserve the existing materials; modern lighting should be discreet. The installation of electrical and mechanical systems should respect the character and historic fabric of the building (the proliferation of electrical wires should be avoided).
The location of the Former Powder Magazine was chosen based on the principle that a magazine had to be built a certain distance from the town and the gorge of a bastion. To ensure that the relationship between the different components of the defence system is not lost, it is recommended that no buildings be built in the immediate vicinity. Landscaping and outdoor furnishings that would obscure the fundamentally military character of the site should also be avoided. Finally, interpretative signs should be discreet and separate from the building so as to preserve the integrity of both the magazine and the site.