Description of Historic Place

The attractive Back Range Light Tower with an attached dwelling is located on the flat, coastal landscape of New London. It is comprised of a square tapered, medium-height tower attached to a one-storey, gable-roofed structure. These are clad in white-painted wood shingles with red trim around multi-pane wood windows and the doors. A brick chimney projects from the roof of the dwelling and a red-painted steel and glass, multi-sided lantern crowns the tower. A vertical stripe daymark in red is visible on the tower’s seaside façade. The designation is confined to the footprint of the building.

Heritage Value

The Back Range Light Tower is a Recognized Federal Heritage Building because of its historical associations, and its architectural and environmental values.

Historical Value
The Back Range Light Tower is associated with the post-Confederation building campaigns to improve maritime safety by building an extensive network of coastal lights. The inclusion of dwellings at the light towers reflected the importance of maintaining the lights at these locations.

Architectural Value
The Back Range Light Tower is valued for its very good aesthetic design. The medium-height, square tapered light tower, attached to a dwelling, is a picturesque example of a design popular in Prince Edward Island. Constructed of wood, the light tower exhibits the simplified and smooth appearance typical of marine buildings. The good functional layout of the building reflected departmental guidelines in providing ample room for the keeper and his family. Displaying good craftsmanship, the extended top and superimposed gallery are distinct features of the design.

Environmental Value
The Back Range Light Tower maintains an unchanged relationship to its site and is compatible with the picturesque maritime character of its remote coastal setting. The light tower functions as an important marker of its associated remote environment and is well known in the area.

Sources: Lighttower, Rear Range, New London Prince Edward Island, Federal Heritage Buildings Review Office, Building Report, 89-214; Lighttower, New London, Prince Edward Island, Heritage Character Statement, 89-214.

Character-Defining Elements

The character-defining elements of the Back Range Light Tower should be respected.

Its good aesthetic and functional design and good craftsmanship and materials, for example:
- the rectangular footprint and the massing, which is comprised of a square, tapered medium-height tower smoothly joined to the tapered sides of a one-storey structure with a shingled gable roof;
- the wood frame construction;
- the wood shingle siding, the superimposed wood bracketed gallery, cornice and the cross-braced guardrail;
- the multi-pane wood sash windows and door with distinctive projecting heads;
- the metal railings;
- the colour scheme;
- the surviving significant features and finishes of the interior.

The manner in which the Back Range Light Tower maintains an unchanged relationship to its site, is compatible with the picturesque maritime character of its coastal setting, and is a well-known landmark within the area, as evidenced by:
- its ongoing relationship to the flat, coastal landscape;
- its overall attractive scale, massing, design and materials, which is compatible with the picturesque coastal surroundings;
- its visibility from both land and water in the area, and its role as an important marker, which makes it a local landmark.