Description of Historic Place

The Lower Brewers Defensible Lockmaster’s House overlooks the Rideau Canal and stands close to the lock at Lower Brewers Lockstation. It is a two-storey, cube-shaped building with a pyramidal roof and symmetrical façade. The ground floor walls are of limestone while the second-storey addition is clad in clapboard. The windows of the upper floor balance those of the lower and complete the symmetry. An enclosed porch protects the main entrance. The designation is confined to the footprint of the building.

Heritage Value

The Lower Brewers Defensible Lockmaster’s House is a Recognized Federal Heritage Building because of its historical associations, and its architectural and environmental values.

Historical Value:
The Lower Brewers Defensible Lockmaster’s House is a good example of a building associated with the construction and operation of the Rideau Canal, and illustrates the theme of military defence for Upper and Lower Canada in the 19th century, and the evolution and transformation of the waterway as a federal public work. The establishment of a station at Lower Brewers stimulated the development of a milling community centred on a grist-mill, woollen mill and store.

Architectural Value:
The Lower Brewers Defensible Lockmaster’s House is valued for its good aesthetic design built as a defensible residence for the lockmaster. Later additions, such as the second storey and small wooden structure with porch to the rear, give the structure a more residential appearance. This resulted from a change in the function of the canal by the twentieth century from defence to recreation and commerce. The building exhibits very good functional design, which is evidenced in its dual function as a military structure and residence. Its materials and craftsmanship exemplify the high design standards of the Royal Engineers.

Environmental Value:
The Lower Brewers Defensible Lockmaster’s House reinforces the historic character of its park-like setting at Lower Brewers Lockstation and is a familiar landmark to local residents and to visitors.

Sources: James De Jonge, Fifteen buildings, Southern Area, Rideau Canal, Ontario, Federal Heritage Buildings Review Office, Building Reports 89-155, 89-156, 89-157, 89-158,89-159, and 89-160; Defensible Lockmaster’s House, Lower Brewers Lockstation, Rideau Canal, Ontario, Heritage Character Statement 89-155.

Character-Defining Elements

The character-defining elements of the Lower Brewers Defensible Lockmaster’s House should be respected.

Its good aesthetic, very good functional design and very good quality materials and craftsmanship, for example: the two-storey massing with pyramidal roof, and chimney; the exterior walls, the thick ground floor wall constructed of evenly coursed limestone masonry with infilled loopholes, and the frame second floor clad in clapboard; the symmetrical elevations with regular placement of the windows and doors; the enclosed defensible porch and the wooden addition at the rear; the interior configuration.

The manner in which the Lower Brewers Defensible Lockmaster’s House reinforces the historic character of its park-like setting at Lower Brewers Lockstation and is a familiar local landmark, as evidenced by: its overall scale, design and materials, which harmonize with the lockstation surroundings; its visibility due to its prominent location adjacent to the canal, which makes it a local landmark.

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 Lockmaster's House at Lower Brewers Lockstation was built in 1842 by the British Ordnance Department as a defensible residence for the lockmaster. In 1898-99, a second storey was added and, post-1930, a small wooden structure with porch was added to the rear. Environment Canada Parks Service is the custodial department. See FHBRO Building Report 89-155.

Reason for Designation

The building was designated Recognized because of its historical associations, its design, materials and craftsmanship, and its site.

This defensible lockmaster's house was built during the period in which the Rideau Canal fulfilled a major role in the military defence strategy of the United Canadas. The establishment of a station at Lower Brewers stimulated the development of a milling community centred on a grist mill, woolen mill, and store.

The house retains a number of the defensible design components of its original type, while its second storey addition represents the shift to a more strictly residential design associated with the use of the canal for transportation. Its materials and craftsmanship exemplify the high design standards of the Royal Engineers.

The historic relationship of the house to its site remains generally undisturbed from the early twentieth century. The building is a dominant component of the lockstation environment.

Character Defining Elements

The heritage character of this property is defined by its combination of military and residential design features, its materials and craftsmanship, and its relationship to its site.

The Lower Brewers Lockmaster's House is a two storey, pyramidal-roof dwelling, with a small wooden addition at the rear. Originally, it was a single storey structure of limestone, with a simple cubical form and a symmetrical façade. The second storey addition in horizontal clapboard maintains the simple massing. On the main façade, the windows of the upper storey balance those of the lower, retaining the original symmetry.

The lower storey is carefully constructed in the evenly coursed limestone associated with the Royal Engineers. The house retains its single storey limestone porch, an original defensible design component which has been lost on a number of similar lockmasters' houses. It also retains infilled loopholes recalling its original military function.

The historical points of entry to the building have been maintained, preserving the orientation of the building to the canal. The building's proximity to the canal, its open site and its limestone construction make the house a highly visible feature of the lockstation environment. The form, materials and setting of this property should be maintained.