Description of Historic Place

The Commanding Officer’s Residence, also known as Building 8, is a simple, vernacular, one-and-a-half storey building that features a gable roof, a rectangular plan, and a full basement that is partially exposed at the rear due to the sloping site. The Commanding Officer’s Residence is oriented towards the Halifax Citadel and marks the eastern end of the original row of four principal buildings at Royal Artillery Park. The designation is confined to the footprint of the building.

Heritage Value

The Commanding Officer’s Residence is a Recognized Federal Heritage Building because of its historical associations, and its architectural and environmental values.

Historical value
The Commanding Officer’s Residence is a very good example of the national theme of Imperial defence, specifically the land-based defence of the Halifax harbour and of the Royal Navy Dockyard by the British army, and of the sub-theme of garrison life or the accommodation and social aspect of military life. The Commanding Officer’s Residence was closely and continuously associated with the Royal Artillery from its completion in 1805 until the garrison withdrawal in 1906. During that period it housed all of the Royal Artillery commanders including Alexander Cavalie Mercer (1832-1842). As the oldest extant building at Royal Artillery Park, the Commanding Officer’s Residence is the best example of the formative phase of Royal Artillery Park, and within the park, the best example of the Prince Edward period.

Architectural value
The Commanding Officer’s Residence is a good example of a functional type based on a standard plan originally imported from England. Despite several alterations, the one-storey front elevation still houses the main entrance to the building, and the main floor’s original interior layout is still legible and has proven to be adaptable. The building continues to function as it did in the Georgian era as a commanding officer’s residence, demonstrating a continuity of use. Constructed of good quality woodwork and detailing on the interior of the building, the exterior treatment of the Commanding Officer’s Residence is fairly utilitarian in nature.

Environmental value
The Commanding Officer’s Residence strongly reinforces the military character of the campus setting of Royal Artillery Park, which in turn is oriented to the Citadel and reinforces the historic character of the Citadel and the glacis. An integral component of Royal Artillery Park, the Commanding Officer’s Residence has influenced the scale and type of buildings in the surrounding neighbourhood, which consists primarily of residential and low-rise commercial buildings. The Commanding Officer’s Residence is the oldest surviving building at Royal Artillery Park and is a visually prominent building, and as such, it is a well-known local landmark.

Sources: Ian Doull, Buildings No. 1, 2, 3, 6, 8, Royal Artillery Park, CFB Halifax, Nova Scotia. Federal Heritage Buildings Review Office Report 90-005; 8/Commanding Officer’s Residence, Royal Artillery Park, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Heritage Character Statement 90-005.

Character-Defining Elements

The character-defining elements of the Commanding Officer’s Residence should be respected.

Its good functional design and its good quality materials and craftsmanship as manifested in: the one-storey functional front elevation which still features the main entrance in its original location; the original interior layout which is still legible on the main floor and which is derived from a standard plan for this building type; the good quality woodwork and detailing on the interior of the building including the door casings, doors, mouldings and mantelpieces.

The manner in which the building reinforces the military character of the campus setting of Royal Artillery Park, and is a well-known local landmark as evidenced by: its low residential scale and massing which are in keeping with the other remaining Royal Artillery Park buildings, and which have influenced the scale and type of buildings in the surrounding neighbourhood; its location at the eastern end of the original row of the four principal Royal Artillery buildings including the Officers’ Mess; the view from the building of the signalling masts on the Citadel which is significant since it was through this visual connection that the early officers learned of recent ship arrivals and military messages; its visual landmark value owing to its scale, style and location as part of Royal Artillery Park, which together with the Officers’ Mess contributes to the public’s visual image of Royal Artillery Park; its importance as a symbolic landmark as a result of its military and community value as part of Halifax as a garrison town.

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 Commanding Officer's Residence was built in 1804-1805 to the designs of Captain William Fenwick, commander of the Royal Engineers contingent at Halifax from 1796-1806. Since unification of the armed forces in 1968, it has been the residence of one of the commanders of Maritime Command at CFB Halifax. The custodial department is National Defence. See FHBRO Building Report 90-05.

Reasons for Designation

The building was designated Recognized for its historical associations with the theme of Imperial harbour and coastal defence, and for its status as the oldest extant structure at Royal Artillery Park. Conceived at the creation of the Park during the 1794-1800 term of office of Prince Edward, Duke of Kent as Commander-in-Chief of Nova Scotia, the residence is perhaps the oldest extant official military residence in Halifax, and is almost certainly the oldest one still in its original use. The residence is also significant for environmental reasons as one of the most visually prominent of the ensemble of military structures at Royal Artillery Park as seen from the vantage point of the main gate.

Character Defining Elements

The Commanding Officer's Residence marks the east end of the original row of four principal Royal Artillery Park buildings. Together with the officers' mess, it creates much of the visual image of Royal Artillery Park to the general public as seen from the main park entrance on Sackville Street, through the surrounding iron fence.

In its original form, the one and one-half storey frame structure was a Palladian-inspired composition of central pedimented frontispiece with flanking wings, and symmetrically placed windows, vestibules and chimney stacks. The design was typical of small barracks and messes constructed by the Royal Engineers in auxiliary fortresses or battery locations in various colonial locations garrisoned by Imperial Troops.

The formal symmetry of the original conception has been obscured by an extensive reworking of the principal elevation, which now consists of three uneven planes, each with its own roofline. The rhythm of the openings has been lost, and one of the original chimneys removed. The installation of imitation clapboard siding and louvered shutters has further undermined the integrity of the building.

The rear (south) elevation is relatively intact by comparison, and resembles the original symmetry of the principal elevation. Despite the enlargement of the central frontispiece, the pediment with its half-round window opening is still discernible. The original floor plan, comprised of five large rooms, is also more clearly legible in the south end, which retains many of the original interior mouldings, doors, surrounds and fireplaces. A number of service and utility rooms have been added to the northern section, which is reflected in the current irregular configuration of the principal (north) facade.

The principal elevation faces the northern lawn of Royal Artillery Park (formerly an unpaved parade square) across paved semi-elliptical driveways. Because of its landmark status, and because it marks the eastern end of the original row of principal park buildings, it is desirable to preserve the building's visual prominence from the main gates.