Description of Historic Place

The Shipwrights' Shed / Spar Shed, Building D113, an elongated one-storey, gable roofed brick structure, is located on a sloping site and is one of a group of Dockyard buildings situated on the road to ‘A’ Jetty at the Esquimalt Dockyard. It is detailed with stone dressings, corbels, friezes, vaults and archways. The designation is confined to the footprint of the building.

Heritage Value

The Shipwrights' Shed / Spar Shed, Building D113 is a Recognized Federal Heritage Building because of its historical associations, and its architectural and environmental value.

Historical Value
The Shipwrights' Shed / Spar Shed, Building D113 was part of the Royal Navy Dockyard shipwright’s department and is directly associated with the operational maintenance of the Pacific Squadron and with the principal function of the Dockyard. It is historically significant as it was the location of the ceremony for the formal transfer of the Dockyard and other Royal Navy properties from Great Britain to Canada in 1910. It was constructed as part of the Royal Navy’s 1895-1904 rebuilding program.

Architectural Value
The Shipwrights' Shed / Spar Shed, Building D113 is a good example of the small shop-and-storage facilities found throughout the Royal Navy section of the Dockyard. It exhibits good functional design and quality craftsmanship. It is distinguished by the corbelled friezes and circular openings within the gables which are characteristic of many Royal Navy Dockyard Buildings.

The Environmental Value
The Shipwrights' Shed / Spar Shed, Building D113 reinforces the character of the streetscape of Hospital Road and the road to ‘A’ Jetty. It complements the gable-roofed facades of Building D51 and D75-76 which face the road. It maintains an unchanged relationship with its sloping site and is a familiar landmark within the Dockyard.

Sources: Ian Doull, Dockyard, CFB Esquilmalt, Esquimalt, British Columbia, Federal Heritage Building Report, 89-202; Building D75-76, D80, D113, Esquimalt Dockyard, Esquilmalt, British Columbia, Heritage Character Statement, 89-202.

Character-Defining Elements

The following character-defining elements of Shipwrights' Shed / Spar Shed, Building D113 should be respected.

Its functional design and quality craftsmanship and materials, for example: its elongated one-storey, gable-roofed structure and rear two-storey façade; its exposed full masonry basement level; its window and door openings defined by rock-faced ashlar with dressed margins; its construction in brick and rich detailing of stone dressings, corbels, friezes, vaults archways and historic openings

The manner in which the Shipwrights' Shed / Spar Shed, Building D113 reinforces the character of the streetscape on Hospital Road and within the Dockyard as evidenced by: its physical relationship to Buildings D75-76, D80, D77 and D109 which together
form a visually distinctive and cohesive streetscape.

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.

Building D75-76 were built in 1896 and 1895 respectively as warehouses. They are now used for offices. Building D80 was built in 1902 as one of the main warehouse facilities in the Dockyard, a function it continued to perform until the 1950s. It now houses shops and a sailmaker's loft. Building D113 was built in 1901 as a Shipwright's Shop. From 1918-22 it housed classrooms of the Royal Naval College of Canada. It was subsequently used as Carpenters Shops. It now houses offices. All were constructed as part of the Royal Navy's rebuilding program of 1895-1904. The Department of National Defence is custodian. See FHBRO Building Report 89-202 (volume 1).

Reasons for Designation
Buildings D75-76, D80 and D113 were designated Recognized because of their historical associations, their architectural design and quality craftsmanship, and their importance in the urban environment of the Dockyard.

All three buildings were built under the Royal Navy's 1895-1904 rebuilding program and are directly associated with the principal function of the Dockyard. Building D113 was the location of the ceremony for the formal transfer of the Dockyard and other Royal Navy properties from Great Britain to Canada in 1910.

The Dockyard derives much of its character from the form, material and relationships of its many brick buildings constructed during the Royal Navy's 1895-1904 rebuilding program. Constructed in brick and richly detailed with stone dressings, corbels, friezes, vaults and archways, these buildings contribute to the Dockyard's visual identity and strong sense of place. Buildings D75-76, D80 and D113 are good examples of this group.

Situated on the road to 'A' Jetty, on Hospital Road, or at the intersection of the two, Buildings D75-76, D80 and D113 together with Buildings D77 and D109 form a visually distinctive and cohesive streetscape at this end of Hospital Road and frame the vista toward Duntze Head and the harbour.

Character Defining Elements
The heritage value of Buildings D75-76, D80 and D113 resides in their associative value, their architectural design and their contextual importance in the Dockyard.

The scale, generally symmetrical composition and subtle detailing of these buildings contribute to both their classical and industrial character and to the quality of their design. Their principal characteristics are brick construction, large regularly-spaced arched windows, round windows, corbelled friezes in the gables, rubbed brick and stone sills. Where foundations are exposed (as in D113) these are in rock-faced rubble. Details such as corners, key-stones and lower level openings are detailed with rock-faced ashlar with dressed margins.

Despite alterations to some door and window openings, the integrity of the exteriors of the buildings is very high. Their features should be carefully maintained, with appropriate expertise consulted for any repairs including repointing or cleaning of the masonry.

The interiors of the buildings have been altered through subdivision of spaces, installation of ceilings and, in the case of D113, removal of the skylight. Any future work should be preceded by investigation to identify and document historic features for possible incorporation into new designs. Historic structural systems should be retained and protected.

Building D75-76
Building D75-76 consists of two adjoining one-and-one-half storey, gable-roofed elongated blocks. The building derives its distinctive character from the two gables which face Hospital Road. Its long, plain form is interrupted only by arched windows and door openings. Several window and door openings have been fully or partially filled in, however the original openings and their arched heads are clearly apparent and still contribute to the composition of the facades. The principal facade of D76 is less altered in this way; several original sash, rainwater hardware and other elements survive. These features should be carefully maintained.

Building D75-76 is a significant feature in the Hospital Road streetscape. Strongly defines the south side of the road and complements the group on the north side from D51 to D109 and in particular D51 with its two gable-roofed facades which face the road.

Building D80
Building D80 is an imposing two-storey elongated block with a gable roof. Brick pilasters divide the east and west facades into nine bays, with four windowed bays on each side of the central entrance doors. The window and door arrangement is repeated on both facades and at both floors. The result is a building with clean lines and a formal, symmetrical composition which is clearly industrial and classical in character. This is reinforced by its large divided light (four-over-eight) windows and its brick construction.

The historic integrity of the exterior of Building D80 is very high. The brickwork, many original sash, some rainwater hardware and other elements survive. These features should be carefully maintained. The historic chimneys which were symmetrically located at either side of the north elevation entrance have been removed, and mechanical equipment for the building's shop operations has been added to the south elevation. Should the building be converted to another use, reversal of both alterations would considerably enhance its heritage character.

Due to its size, design and placement, Building D80 is an important part of the group of buildings which form a dense cluster in the area of 'A' Jetty.

Building D113
Building D113 is an elongated one-storey, gable-roofed structure constructed in brick and supported on a full masonry basement. The building derives its distinctive character from its location on a sloping site: At the rear, the building has a full two-storey facade. The exposed basement level is in rock-faced rubble, while the corners and window and door openings are defined by rock-faced ashlar with dressed margins.

The historic integrity of the exterior of Building D113 is generally high. The brickwork, stonework, many original sash, historic hardware and other elements survive. These should be carefully maintained. On the main (south) elevation, the former double-width main entrance has been bricked in, the round window in the gable converted to a vent and the double chimneys removed. Despite these changes, the historic openings and their arched heads are clearly apparent and contribute to the composition of the facade. Further such alterations to the building's exterior should avoided.

Building D113 is a significant feature in the streetscape of Hospital Road and the road to 'A' Jetty. It particularly complements the gable-roofed facades of Buildings D51 and D75-76 which face the road.