Description of Historic Place

Fort Tipperary consists of the remains of a star-shaped fortification located on an approximately 1.7 ha site on Prince of Wales Street in the Town of St. Andrews. Earthworks are the only visible remains of the fort built to defend St. Andrews during the War of 1812.

Heritage Value

Fort Tipperary was designated a Provincial Historic Site for its association with New Brunswick's military history and for its potential as an archaeological site.

Fort Tipperary, along with three blockhouses, was planned as part of the defensive network for the important but exposed coastal St. Andrews during the war of 1812.

Situated at the back of the community, Fort Tipperary had a commanding view of the settlement and the approach by sea. The War of 1812 ended and peace was restored before the fort was completed, the garrison departed shortly after the signing of the Treaty of Ghent in 1814.

The star shaped fort consisted of stockade on earthen ramparts that measured approximately 400 x 200 feet. Other fortifications of the same period exist in the province, but their earthworks have not survived to the same extent as those of Fort Tipperary’s.

Subsequently, the fort was rearmed during the threat of the Fenian Raids. The site was later used by the Provincial militia for training. In 1901, the barracks were torn down. The site has value in the potential archaeological features and artefacts of a fortification of this configuration from the War of 1812.

Source: Province of New Brunswick, Department of Wellness, Culture and Sport, Heritage Branch, Site File # 64.

Character-Defining Elements

The character-defining elements that relate to Fort Tipperary as an expression of a fortification to defend St. Andrews include:
- its context and commanding view;
- its almost completely intact earthen ramparts;
- two bronze 9-pounder cannons (demi-culverins) related to the War of 1812;
- two iron 32-pounder cannons (demi-cannons) related to a rearming of the fort in response to the Fenian Raids.