Description of Historic Place

The Lockmaster’s House, part of the Lower Beveridges Lockstation, is located on the Second Tay Canal, a branch of the Rideau Canal National Historic Site of Canada. The two-storey, L-shaped timber structure has a gable roof and features a verandah that extends along the east and south elevations. Regularly placed doors and windows pierce the clapboard exterior walls. The designation is confined to the footprint of the building.

Heritage Value

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

Historical Value
The Lockmaster’s House was built by the Government of Canada during construction of the Second Tay Canal which, located below Lower Rideau Lake and the Tay River in Perth, is a part of the larger Rideau Canal System. It is the first structure to be built at this lockstation and as such, it is associated with the Post-Confederation construction of regional waterways for transportation purposes. The Second Tay Canal is also associated with the recreational use of the Rideau Canal system by passenger steamers at the turn of the century.

Architectural Value
The Lockmaster’s House is valued for its good aesthetics. It is a good example of turn-of-the-century vernacular design, more often seen in farmhouses from the period. By the late 19th century, the emphasis was no longer on the military role of the Rideau Canal but on residential design that reflected the commercial and recreational use of the canal system. Good functional design can be seen in the interior layout with a central-hall plan. Good craftsmanship can be seen in the interior woodwork.

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

Sources: James De Jonge, Twenty Nine Buildings, Central Area, Rideau Canal, Ontario, Federal Heritage Buildings Review Office, Building Report 91-072 to 91-081; Lockmaster’s House, Lower Beveridges Lockstation, Rideau Canal, Ontario, Heritage Character Statement 91-073.

Character-Defining Elements

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

Its good aesthetics, functional design and quality materials and craftsmanship, for example: the two-storey massing; the gabled roof, and the chimney; the frame construction and exterior clapboard cladding; the regular placement of the windows and doors on both floors; the interior configuration, and the woodwork, including the staircase with balustrades.

The manner in which the Lockmaster’s House reinforces the historic character of its park-like, rural setting at Lower Beveridges Lockstation and is a familiar local landmark, as evidenced by: its overall scale, design and materials, which harmonize with the surrounding green spaces at the lock station; 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 Beveridges Lockstation was built in 1883, possibly in two stages, by the Government of Canada as part of the construction of the Second Tay Canal between Lower Rideau Lake and the Tay River at Perth. It originally served as both the lockmaster's residence and the lockstation office. A verandah, woodshed (both replaced in kind in 1988) and a frame kitchen were added in the late 19th century. The building continues to function as a residence. The Canadian Parks Service is the custodial department. See FHBRO Building Report 91-73.

Reasons for Designation

The Lower Beveridges Lockmaster's House was designated Recognized as a result of its historical associations, its design characteristics, and the historic residential nature of the site.

The house, the first structure to be built at this lockstation, is associated with the Post-Confederation construction of regional waterways for transportation purposes. The Second Tay Canal, intended originally to promote commercial traffic to Perth, is also associated with the recreational use of the Rideau Canal system by passenger steamers at the turn of the century.

The Lockmaster's House is the only structure at Lower Beveridges surviving from the early period of the Second Tay Canal. As such, it contributes to the historic character of the lockstation and is a local landmark.

Character Defining Elements

The heritage character of this structure is defined by its turn-of-the-century vernacular design and its contribution to the setting.

Like similar lockmaster's houses on the Rideau Canal dating from the late nineteenth century, the Lower Beveridges house is a good example of farmhouse design from the period -- clapboarded, two-storey, and gabled-roofed, with the L-shape plan frequently employed in this type of structure. The frame kitchen addition at the rear dates from before 1930, while the woodshed and verandah replicate 1930s ones. The functional residential design of the building reflects the period of commercial and recreational use of the canal system. The house, in good overall condition, exhibits the central-hall plan popular at the time, and retains much interior woodwork and, apparently, the original windows. Inspection and maintenance of the building fabric should be carried out routinely.

The house retains its 1930s appearance and the relationship of the house to the setting is unchanged. The pleasant rural character of the environment should be preserved.