Description of Historic Place

The Armoury is prominently located near the War Memorial in downtown Brantford. The large volume of the drill hall is fronted by a monumental, fortress-like façade of brick and stone, with projecting crenellated end pavilions. The main entrance is housed in an octagonal, castellated corner tower. The designation is confined to the footprint of the building.

Heritage Value

The Armoury is a Recognized Federal Heritage Building because of its historical associations, and its architectural and environmental value.

Historical Value
The Armoury is closely associated with the pre-World War I building campaign and the reform and expansion of the volunteer militia. The alterations and enlargement of the building reflect government policy to provide improved local training facilities for the militia.

Architectural Value
The Armoury is valued for its good aesthetic design. Alterations to the original armoury resulted in a monumental and ordered design, which introduced references to medieval military architecture. The distinctive exterior massing encloses a large drill hall, messes, classrooms and storage facilities. The good quality masonry work features medieval military detailing, including buttresses, dentilated stringcourses, corbelling and crenellations.

Environmental Value
The Armoury, located near the War Memorial, reinforces the historic character of its town park setting. A prominent building, the Armoury is a familiar landmark in the city.

Sources: Armoury, Brantford, Ontario, Federal Heritage Building Review Office, Building Report, 91-144; Armoury, Brantford, Ontario, Heritage Character Statement, 91-144.

Character-Defining Elements

The character-defining elements of the Armoury should be respected.

Its good aesthetic design and fortress motif, good functional design, and good materials and craftsmanship, for example: the massing consisting of a two-storey, gable-roofed hall with two-storey flat roofed ancillary blocks at the end and side; the front block, with its crenellated profile, prominent chimneys, projecting end pavilions, and three-storey corner octagonal tower; the symmetrical, regular pattern of the wood sash windows and the doors; the materials, including the smooth-faced, red-brick with sandstone, set upon a rusticated limestone base; the masonry work with medieval military detailing, including buttresses, dentilated stringcourses, corbelling and crenellations; the wood porch construction with a bracketed cornice, paired pilasters and columns with bosses and brackets; the open spatial volume of the drill hall.

The manner in which the Armoury reinforces the historic character of its town park setting and is a familiar landmark as evidenced by: its distinctive exterior massing and prominent scale relative to the adjacent heritage district and near the War Memorial, which contributes to the overall historic character of the park setting; its monumental, fortress-like appearance and high standards of construction which reinforce the importance of the building within the community; its familiarity and visibility within the region given its large scale, prominent location and known historical associations.

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 Brantford Armoury was constructed in 1893. It was designed by H.H.W. Goold architect. The building was substantially altered and re-planned in 1904-05 by T.W. Fuller, the Chief Architect of the Department of Public Works. The building continues to be used as an armoury. The Department of National Defence is the custodian. See FHBRO Building Report 91-144.

Reasons For Designation

The Brantford Armoury was designated Recognized because of its environmental significance and architectural importance, and for its historical associations.

The armoury is a prominent building in the adjacent heritage district. The high standards of the design and construction reinforce the importance of the building within the community. It is prominently located near the War Memorial in the main town park.

The alterations to the original armoury resulted in a more monumental and ordered design which introduced references to medieval military architecture. An octagonal castellated entry tower is the principal feature of the two-storey brick and stone facade with projecting end pavilions. The distinctive exterior massing arises from the modifications to the original planning reflecting the functional requirements of the pre World War I drill hall.

The construction of this armoury is associated with a pre-World War I building campaign and the reform and expansion of the volunteer militia. The alterations and enlargement reflect government policy to provide improved local training facilities for the militias.

Character Defining Elements

The heritage character of the Brantford Armoury resides in its overall form, proportions, construction materials, Medieval Revival architectural details, interior planning and volumes, and site relationships.

The irregular massing consists of a two-storey gable-roofed hall. The two-storey flat-roofed ancillary blocks at the end and side incorporate an earlier two-storey hip-roofed form with porch. The front block, with its crenellated profile, prominent chimneys, and projecting end pavilions, has an asymmetrical attached three-storey octagonal tower. The complex external massing, profiles, and footprint reflect additive alterations as well as the internal functions, and the clarity of this expression should be maintained. The massing is balanced by a symmetrical, regular pattern of windows and doors which contributes to the visual richness of the facades.

The well-scaled facades are executed in two tones of smooth-faced, red brick with sandstone, and are set upon a rusticated limestone base, all providing colour and textural contrast. The masonry features medieval military detailing- buttresses, dentilated string courses, corbelling and crenellations- which also reinforces the picturesque character. The masonry requires an ongoing maintenance program, and conservation expertise in the choice of materials and techniques for cleaning, repairs, and replacement. The wood porch construction features a bracketed cornice, paired pilasters and columns with bosses and brackets which should be maintained.

The roof of the armoury is a prominent feature. The asphalt roofing may not follow original design intentions. Future replacement roof material should be based on research to confirm historical precedent for materials and colours.

The wood sash windows appear to be replacements in modern materials. The vertical sliding sashes with exterior screens simplify the intended visual richness of the traditional frame and sash profiles, while the screening obscures details. The wood sashes seen in period photographs contribute a prominent pattern to the window openings. When existing replacements reach the end of their life, historic research should be used to determine appropriate window replacements. Windows which have been blocked off or have air-conditioners installed should be reinstated. The modern doors and transoms have minimal detailing and should be replaced with units based on historic precedent.

The enlarged and redesigned layout of the armoury and extant original features and finishes of the original interiors contribute to the historic character and should be respected. The characteristic open spatial character of the drill hall should be maintained.

A simple ground plane is characteristic of the historic setting. The use of turf grass, asphalt, and concrete paving reflects the austere character and should be continued. Mature specimen trees should be protected. The symmetry of the building should be reflected in the continued use of foundation planting shrub material. Research is recommended to determine a more historically appropriate material to replace existing chain link fencing.