Description of Historic Place

The Former Artillery Stores (No.91) is situated within Fort Charlotte on Georges Island located in Halifax Harbour. It is a one-storey, rectangular, red brick building with a low-pitched, gabled, wooden roof. The designation is confined to the footprint of the building.

Heritage Value

The Former Artillery Stores (Building No.91) is a Recognized Federal Heritage Building because of its historical associations, and its architectural and environmental values.

Historical Value:
The Former Artillery Stores (Building No.91) is a very good example of a building associated with the defence of the Imperial naval station during the period of heightened tension following the Trent affair of 1861, and also the change in armament technology represented by the introduction of the rifled muzzle-loading (RML) gun.

Architectural Value:
The Former Artillery Stores (Building No.91) is a good example of a specialized coastal defence structure integral to a permanent fortification and displays the general form of an artillery stores building of the RML period. Integral to the fort, the Former Artillery Stores was built to house the accoutrements with which to service a RML gun battery. This functional building with a minimum of defensive features, exhibits very good craftsmanship and materials.

Environmental Value
The Former Artillery Stores (Building No.91) reinforces the present military character of the Georges Island National Historic Site setting and is familiar to staff and visitors to the island.

Sources:
Rhona Goodspeed, Georges Island, Halifax Defence Complex, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Volume Two, Federal Heritage Buildings Review Office Report 95-001.

The Former Artillery Stores (No.91), Fort Charlotte, Georges Island, Halifax Defence Complex, Halifax, Nova Scotia Heritage Character Statement 95-001.

Character-Defining Elements

The character-defining elements of the Former Artillery Stores (No.91) should be respected, for example:

Its functional design and good quality materials, for example:

-The simple massing, elongated rectangular plan, the low-pitched gable roof and the central single brick chimney stack with double course oversailing.
-The solid brick walls constructed in Flemish bond with recessed panel treatment on the longer sides; the shallow segmental rowlock arched openings and the pre-cast concrete lug sills at the windows.
-The double door openings and glazed transoms in the gable ends.
-The interior physical separation of the ‘side arms and tackle stores’, the herringbone pattern brick flooring and the remaining interior fittings.
-The communicating door with a shallow segmental rowlock arch and built-in solid timber frame, and the light character of the roof framing.

The manner in which the Former Artillery Stores (No.91) reinforces the present military character of the setting within Georges Island National Historic Site and is a familiar landmark as evidenced by:

-Its specialized military defence design which harmonizes with the other defence structures in the fort setting.
-Its visibility and familiarity within the fort.