Description of Historic Place

Standing on a hill overlooking the Plains of Abraham in the City of Québec, Martello Tower 1 is a massively built, two-storey plain squat cylindrical tower of solid stone construction. The Tower’s walls are built of rubble masonry and its exterior wall inclines slightly inwards as it rises. Shuttered windows or embrasures, and an arched doorway pierce the wall on the second level. These open to the interior and are accessed by an exterior stairway. Near the top of the wall the structure is encircled by a stone parapet and encircling terrace. The designation is confined to the footprint of the building.

Heritage Value

Martello Tower 1 is a Classified Federal Heritage Building because of its historical associations, and its architectural and environmental values.

Historical Value:
Martello Tower 1 is one of the best examples of a structure associated with the defence of Quebec against possible water-borne attack. Martello Tower 1 is one of four constructed to form a first line of defence within the ensemble of the fortifications of Quebec. It is also associated with an important phase in the military improvements brought to the city at the beginning of the 19th century. The development of the standardized Martello tower design was adopted by the British military in 1804 during a period of strong military development to strengthen Quebec’s key strategic role in defending British North America. Its construction, with the associated economic benefits and the subsequent influx of personnel had a significant impact on Halifax.

Architectural Value:
Martello Tower 1 is a good example of a functional 19th century military defence design. It testifies to the early development and perfection of the Martello tower. The Martello Tower1 displays the very good functional and massively strong characteristics of the Martello towers. The building exhibits excellent workmanship and care in the execution of its massive construction and its details.

Environmental Value:
Martello Tower 1 is located on a hillside overlooking the St. Lawrence within the Plains of Abraham. Although the site has changed it has retained its character. The structure reinforces the coastal defence setting of Quebec and is a landmark to both local people and to visitors.

Sources: Yvonne Desloges, Les Tours Martello de Québec, Québec, Québec. Federal Heritage Buildings Review Office Report 89-053; Martello Tower No.1, Quebec City, Quebec, Heritage Character Statement 89-053.

Character-Defining Elements

The character-defining elements of Martello Tower 1 should be respected.

Its functional military defence design and good quality materials and craftsmanship as evidenced in: the massive circular walls built of rubble masonry and its exterior wall, which inclines slightly inwards as it rises and which is topped in turn, by smaller parapet walls; the simple geometric massing of the squat cylindrical tower; the encircling stone cordon at the top the wall and, below this, the openings to the interior; the entrance to the Tower situated on the second level with exterior stair access.

The manner in which Martello Tower 1 reinforces the military character of the City of Quebec.

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.

Martello Tower #1, on the Plains of Abraham, at Quebec City, was built between 1808 and 1812 to plans prepared by Ralph Henry Bruyère of the Royal Engineers. It has been the property of the Commission des champs de bataille nationaux since 1936. See FHBRO Building Report 89-53.


Reasons for Designation

Martello Tower #1 was designated Classified for its historic associations, its architectural importance and, in particular, its environmental significance.

The tower is one of four constructed to form a first line of defence within the ensemble of the fortifications of Quebec. Their construction constituted an important phase in the military improvements brought to the city by the Royal Engineers at the beginning of the 19th century, during a period of strong military development to strengthen Quebec's key strategic role in defending British North America from water-borne attack.

The architectural significance of the tower lies primarily in its adaptation of a British coastal defence model to inland warfare and the quality of the technical execution of the masonry construction.

The environmental importance of tower #1 derives from several sources. The associated landscape, a hillside overlooking the St. Lawrence within the Plains of Abraham, has altered little from the tower's construction; the tower recalls the limits of Quebec's 19th century urban aspirations; and the tower provides important symbolic references to Canada's military past.


Character-defining Elements

The architectural character of the tower resides as much in its stone and brick construction as in the organization of its external and internal spaces. The vaulted ground floor was designed to enclose a powder magazine and to support soldiers' lodging above; the walls, of greatest thickness facing the direction of expected attack, contained a stairway designed to provide infantry with protected access to the field of battle. Above, an encircling terrace and protective parapet provided for both visual surveillance and mounting artillery.

Changes of use over time (including use as a water tower by the Ross Rifle Company, and later for the Astronomy Society of Quebec) have not impaired the integrity of the structure. Future repairs should endeavour equally to maintain the integrity of the original spaces and the quality of the original masonry work.

Every effort should be made to maintain the integrity of the Battlefield landscape surrounding the tower to maintain it free from unsympathetic development.



1992.05.05