Description of Historic Place

The Blockhouse at Fort Edward National Historic Site of Canada is a compact two-storey wood structure with an overhanging second floor and pyramidal roof clad in wood shingles. All elevations are identical, the only distinguishing features being the entrance door with adjacent windows and the brick chimney. The windows are centered on each second floor wall immediately below a row of loopholes and rows of loopholes also line the three walls of the lower floor. Visible from beneath the overhanging upper storey are machicolations. The interior consists simply of two large rooms, upper and lower, connected by a stair. The designation is confined to the footprint of the building.

Heritage Value

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

Historical Value
The Blockhouse is one of the best illustrations of the military strength required to ensure Nova Scotia’s continuance as a British settlement. Britain had taken possession of Nova Scotia, a former French territory by the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht, and began to claim its rights of possession by implementing a settlement plan which included the construction of Fort Edward. The Blockhouse was among the first of two hundred blockhouses constructed in Canada and is the only structure of the fort surviving from the 1750’s. It underwent a major restoration in the 1950’s.

Architectural Value
The Blockhouse is a good early example of typical blockhouse design and is a rare surviving example of a wooden blockhouse. Its value resides in its distinctive form that is based on functional requirements, which are characteristic of blockhouse design. This includes its simplicity of form, excellent sturdy construction, materials and window openings which were formerly gunports. The Blockhouse was intended as an adaptable form of fortification and thus maintained a flexible, open layout.

Environmental Value
Standing isolated on a hill and visible to the highway that runs below it, the Blockhouse establishes the character of the fort setting at Fort Edward National Historic Site of Canada. A distinct structure it maintains a physical relationship to the openness of the grounds. The building enjoys a high level of recognition in the community and is often used as a symbol of Windsor. Directions to the site are well marked and it is highlighted in tourist brochures and its grounds are often used for group events, such as festivals, and private picnics.

Sources: Joan Mattie. Blockhouse, Fort Edward National Historic Site, Windsor, Nova Scotia, Federal Heritage Buildings Review Office Report 92-097; Blockhouse, Fort Edward National Historic Site, Windsor, Nova Scotia, Heritage Character Statement 92-097.

Character-Defining Elements

The character-defining elements of the Blockhouse should be respected.

Its good typical blockhouse design and distinctive simple form based on functional requirements, excellent sturdy construction, quality craftsmanship and materials as manifested in: its simple, compact two-storey massing with an overhanging second floor and medium-pitched kingpost roof structure clad in wood shingles; its sturdy construction with its exterior construction consisting of dovetailed timbers, heavy timber floor plates with wood decking, and 1950s restored exterior walls clad with horizontal shiplap siding with vertical corner boards; its entrance door with adjacent windows centered on each second floor wall immediately below a row of loopholes and its rows of loopholes lining the three walls of the lower floor; its overhanging upper storey machicolations; its simple interior layout of two rooms, upper and lower, connected by a stair.

The manner in which the Blockhouse establishes the character of the historic fort setting of the Fort Edward National Historic Site of Canada and is a symbol of Windsor, Nova Scotia.

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 blockhouse at Fort Edward National Historic Site (NHS) was constructed in 1750 by the British Military. The Department of the Interior acquired the building in 1922 from the Canadian Department of Militia and Defence and named it a National Historic Site. Alterations to the exterior cladding and a variety of maintenance-related repairs have occurred. Parks Canada is the custodian. See FHBRO Building Report No. 92-97.

Reasons for Designation
The Fort Edward Blockhouse was designated Classified for its historical, architectural and environmental significance.

Britain had taken possession of Nova Scotia, a former French territory, by the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht and began to claim its rights of possession by implementing a settlement plan which included construction of Fort Edward. The blockhouse was among the first of two hundred blockhouses constructed in Canada by the British, of which fewer than twenty now survive. It is the only structure of the fort surviving from the 1750s and is illustrative of the military strength required to ensure Nova Scotia's continuance as a British settlement.

The 1950s restoration work was characterized by pragmatism as well as an emerging philosophy of architectural conservation technology which illustrates the approach of national historic site management during the mid-twentieth century.

The blockhouse is an excellent early example of typical blockhouse design and also a rare surviving example of a wooden blockhouse. It is a well known local landmark because of its age and history. The adjacent community of Windsor often utilizes its image as a symbol representing the town.

Character Defining Elements
The heritage character of the Fort Edward Blockhouse resides in its characteristic form and functional design. Perched on the crest of a small hill, the blockhouse is a recognizable landmark within the community.

The distinctive form is based on functional requirements which are characteristic of blockhouse design. It is a compact two-storey structure with an overhanging second floor and pyramidal roof. All elevations are identical, the only distinguishing features being the entrance door with adjacent windows (the windows being a later modification that were in place by the end of the 19th century) and the brick chimney. Windows (formerly gunports, which may have been smaller in their original form) are centred on each second floor wall immediately below a row of loopholes. Rows of loopholes also line the three walls of the lower floor. Additions would not be appropriate since the simplicity of this form is an important character-defining feature.

This blockhouse is constructed entirely of wood. The exterior walls which are mostly of original construction consist of sturdy, dovetailed timbers intended to absorb the impact of bullets and arrows. A medium-pitched, kingpost roof structure is clad in wood shingles. Heavy timber floor plates with wood decking provide additional stability to the structure. Any future repairs or maintenance should continue utilizing wood. Visible from beneath the overhanging upper storey are the machicolations, which are evidence of an ancient defensive tradition and merit protection. Also of note are the Roman numerals incised into the timbers by the original carpenters in Halifax to guide the assembly of the structure after the members were transported to Windsor. Replacement of original wood should be resisted and any treatment which would diminish these marks should be avoided.

The exterior cladding is horizontal shiplap siding with vertical corner boards, installed during the 1950s restoration. The detailing of this siding is not based on any historical documentation. However, at the time it was considered a pragmatic way of recladding and protecting the timbers. Historical evidence indicates that this structure would have been clad at or near the time of construction. Any future recladding work should carefully consider the appropriate profile and detailing.

The interior layout is unchanged, consisting simply of two large rooms, upper and lower, connected by a stair. The blockhouse was intended as an adaptable form of fortification which could be used as a magazine, armoury, storehouse, and barracks. It would be appropriate to maintain this flexible, open layout.

The blockhouse stands isolated on a hill and can be seen from the highway that runs below it. All visible evidence of other buildings has disappeared, and the immediate surroundings have changed considerably over time. However, the openness of the grounds and the vista to the St. Croix and Avon rivers remain largely intact. While the fabric of the earthworks is known to have been changed and rearranged over the years, the trace and overall form of the earthworks is an important feature of the setting and should be protected. Remaining site relationships and features should be retained.

For further guidance, please refer to the FHBRO Code of Practice.