Description of Historic Place

Standing at the tip of Point Frederick, the Fort Frederick Martello Tower at the Royal Military College, otherwise known as Building 30, is a massively built, plain cylindrical four-storey tower of stone construction of medium profile. It has massive circular walls built of rubble masonry and its exterior wall inclines slightly inwards as it rises. The structure reaches 45 feet in height at the trefoil shaped parapet. The roof consists of a timber built, facetted snow roof covered with metal. Openings to the interior are from shutter covered, arched embrasures in the tower wall. The projecting caponiers at the base of the tower are joined to the tower with graceful ogival arches. The designation is confined to the footprint of the building.

Heritage Value

The Fort Frederick Martello Tower is a Classified Federal Heritage Building because of its historical associations, and its architectural and environmental values.

Historical Value:
The Fort Frederick Martello Tower is a useful example of a structure associated with the defence of the Royal Naval Dockyard and the Rideau Canal. It was the most strategically important of the four towers built between 1846 and 1848. Associated with the early military development of the area Fort Frederick Tower was militarily obsolete even before receiving adequate armament in 1862. It served a symbolic role showing British commitment to defence, and a functional role as a barracks until the British army withdrew in 1870. Its construction, with the associated economic benefits and the subsequent requirements of personnel had an impact on Kingston.

Architectural Value:
The Fort FrederickTower is a good example of a specialized 19th century military defence design. It displays an exceptional interpretation of the Martello design elements which were modified so as to contain a larger two-floor barracks. The execution of these elements is evidence of the craftsmanship employed in the construction of the Tower. Displaying massive cylindrical profile masonry walls, trefoil parapet walls, and complex interior divisions characteristic of the Martello towers the building exhibits sound workmanship and care in the execution of its massive construction and its details.

Environmental Value:
Located in Kingston, within what is now the Royal Military College, the Fort Frederic Tower is situated at the tip of Point Frederick overlooking Lake Ontario. The Tower has a strong visual impact, distinguished from the surrounding college buildings by its rounded shape, its obvious age, and its apparent military function. The structure reinforces the coastal defence setting of Kingston and is a landmark to both local people and visitors to Kingston.

Sources:
Joan Mattie, Fort Frederick Martello Tower, Royal Military College, Building No.30, Kingston, Ontario. Federal Heritage Buildings Review Office Report 93-099; Fort Frederick Martello Tower, Royal Military College, Building No.30, Kingston, Ontario, Heritage Character Statement 93-099.

Character-Defining Elements

The character-defining elements of the Fort Frederick Martello Tower should be respected.

Its functional military defence design and good quality materials and craftsmanship as evidenced in: the simple geometric massing of the squat cylindrical tower of solid stone construction with a medium profile; the roof consisting of a timber built, facetted snow roof covered with metal. the trefoil shaped parapet; the massive circular walls built of rubble masonry and its exterior wall of smooth ashlar limestone that inclines slightly inwards as it rises to a height of 45 feet; the subtle shaping of the scarp wall into parabolic facets and the interior openings which are shutter covered, arched embrasures in the tower wall; the wooden stairs to a door at the second level; the projecting caponiers at the base of the tower joined to the tower by graceful ogival arches.

The manner in which the Fort Frederick Martello Tower reinforces the military character of the Royal Military College and the Kingston harbour area.

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 Fort Frederick Martello Tower was built by the Royal Engineers in 1846 based on plans drawn in 1816, and reworked in 1845 by Colonel Holloway, Commanding Royal Engineer for Canada. A metal-clad snow roof was added to the parapet in 1849 and was frequently replaced thereafter. There have been no significant changes to the tower and its immediate setting. The structure currently functions as a museum for Canadian Forces Base Kingston. The Department of National Defence is custodian. See FHBRO Report 93-99.

Reasons For Designation
The Fort Frederick Martello Tower was designated Classified for its exceptional architectural design and excellent craftsmanship, for the quality and integrity of its setting and for its strong historical associations.

The Fort Frederick Martello Tower was the most strategically important of the four towers built in Kingston between 1846 and 1848 as part of the defence plan for the Royal Navy dockyard and the Rideau Canal. These martello towers, which had become standardized in British fortification theory, relied on their massive masonry construction with few openings to provide defensive superiority. The Fort Frederick tower displays an exceptional interpretation of the design elements of a martello tower which was modified to contain a larger barracks. The fine execution of these elements is evidence of the superior craftsmanship employed in the construction of the tower.

The tower's site remains much as it was when developed as a fortification in 1846, displaying a designed strategic defensive form. The site is also important for its considerable archeological value, as the site of the 1812 development of Fort Frederick, and its symbolic importance as a landmark on the RMC campus.

The tower has significant historical associations with the early military development of the Kingston area. Although politically redundant and militarily obsolete before it was adequately armed in 1862, the tower served a symbolic role as a commitment by the British government to the defence of the colony and a functional one as a barracks until the British withdrew their army in 1870.

Character Defining Elements
The heritage value of the Fort Frederick Martello Tower resides in its design and construction excellence and in the outstanding integrity of its setting.

The Fort Frederick Martello Tower displays superior strategic design in the placement and detailing of its components. The alignment of the trefoil parapet and its gun mounts, the wood-shutter covered embrasures and the caponiers, were designed for maximum defensive advantage. The complex interior design was intended to house a greater number of men on two barrack levels and to be more heavily armed than the previous towers.

The craftsmanship evidenced in the tower's elaborate ashlar limestone construction is of exceptional quality. The parabolic vaults of the caponiers, the interior annular vault ceiling, the parabolic facets of the exterior and the external ogival arches of the caponiers all exhibit superior design and construction techniques. The interior displays equally high standards in the functional design of its powder magazines, barracks and central masonry pillar. Conservation expertise is recommended for any future masonry repairs. The metal-clad wood-framed snow roof is temporary and utilitarian by design, and was meant to be removed during battle. The design and construction of the roof displays a successful adaptation of the martello tower to the Canadian climate and should maintained or replaced in-kind at the end of its functional life span.

The Tower's site has remained remarkably intact, displaying the original defensive landscaping of the Fort, and maintaining the military character of the Fort within its current academic setting. The masonry-lined ditch, the triangular-shaped ramparts and the loopholed wall all remain, although slightly compromised by the adjacent roadway and parking lot. The continued protection of these features and appropriate maintenance of the site should be assured.