Description of Historic Place

The Defensible Lockmaster’s House is located in a prominent position overlooking the Rideau Canal and the area around Nicholsons Lockstation, in the Rideau Canal National Historic Site of Canada. It is a two-storey building with a truncated hipped roof containing a central dormer window on the main façade and symmetrically placed doors and windows. A set back, clapboarded summer kitchen extends laterally to the south. The first-storey exterior walls of stone contrast with the clapboard faced second-storey. The designation is confined to the footprint of the building.

Heritage Value

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

Historical Value
The Defensible Lockmaster’s House is a very good example of a building associated with the construction and operation of the Rideau Canal. The house illustrates the theme of military defence for Upper and Lower Canada in the second quarter of the 19th century and exemplifies the Rideau Canal’s change from having a military function to that of transportation. This building, among the earliest of its type constructed, represents the canal’s formative period, and that of the local farming community. The building continues its historic function as a residence for canal staff.

Architectural Value
The Defensible Lockmaster’s House is valued for its good aesthetic design. Its appearance is characteristic of a late 19th-century and early 20th-century residence. The second-storey addition, summer kitchen and interior layout reflect increased emphasis on residential design, which resulted from a change in the function of the canal by the 20th century from defence to recreation and commerce and as such, combines both its original military form as well as added residential features. Very good functional design is evidenced in the interior layout. Very good functional design can be seen in the interior layout. Very good craftsmanship can be seen in the thick, ground floor masonry and the interior woodwork.

Environmental Value
The Defensible Lockmaster’s House reinforces the historic character of its park-like setting at Nicholsons 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; Defensible Lockmaster’s House, Nicholsons Lockstation, Rideau Canal, Ontario, Heritage Character Statement 91-080.

Character-Defining Elements

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

Its good aesthetic, good functional design and very good quality materials and craftsmanship, for example: the two-storey massing; the truncated hipped roof, and the chimney; the exterior walls, the thick ground-floor walls constructed of limestone masonry, and the frame second-floor clad in clapboard; the placement of the windows and doors on both floors; the heavy timber joists and the stone base of the hearth; the clapboard clad, single-storey summer kitchen appended to the main structure; the interior configuration, the woodwork, including the balustraded staircase.

The manner in which the Defensible Lockmaster’s House reinforces the historic character of its park-like setting at Nicholsons 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 lockstation; 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 Defensible Lockmaster's House was built at Nicholsons Lockstation in 1838 by the Royal Engineers as a defensible structure in support of the Rideau Canal system. In the first decades of the twentieth century, a single-storey summer kitchen was added to the south side, while a second storey was added to the main structure. The building continues its historic function as a residence for canal staff. The Canadian Parks Service is the custodian. See FHBRO Building Report 91-80.

Reasons For Designation

The building was designated Recognized as a result of its historical associations, its functional design and quality craftsmanship, and the character of the site.

The combination of military and domestic elements in this structure reflects the changing function of the Rideau Canal over time. The original defensible design components of the house reflect the military role of the Rideau Canal in the defence of the united Canadas during the nineteenth century. This building, among the earliest of its type constructed, represents the canal's formative period, and that of the local farming community. The second-storey addition, summer kitchen and interior woodwork reflect the emphasis on residential design which resulted from a change in the function of the canal in the twentieth century from defence to recreation and commerce.

The site retains its rural domestic character essentially unchanged since the turn of the century, and contributes to the historic character of the setting.

Character Defining Elements

The heritage character of this structure is defined by the combination of military and residential design features, and quality materials and craftsmanship.

The Nicholsons Defensible Lockmaster's House is a two-storey structure, with a truncated hipped roof containing a central dormer window on the main facade. A clapboarded frame summer kitchen extends laterally to the south. The house as originally constructed was a single-storey symmetrical stone structure, with a hipped roof. The addition of the clapboarded second storey maintains the overall massing and symmetry of the original, with the lower floor openings of the front and rear facades balanced by three second-storey windows. The summer kitchen, set back and appropriately scaled, is successfully integrated with the main structure.

The building retains the first-storey thick limestone walls, heavy timber joists and the stone base of the hearth of the original house, attesting to the military function of the structure and to the careful construction associated with the Royal Engineers. Some of the first-floor partition walls also apparently date from this period. Much of the interior woodwork, including the balustraded staircase, dates from the addition of the second storey, and reflects the emphasis on simple domestic accommodation associated with the change in the role of the canal in the twentieth century.

The building retains its original orientation overlooking the canal cut and river, and is visible from both. The house is a local landmark.

The overall form, historic materials, residential character, and setting of this property should be maintained.
1992.07.10