BLOCK 1: BOULANGERIE, HANGARD D'ARTILLERIE, NEW ENGLAND STOREHOUSE, BY LINDA HOAD -

Search Website Design and Content © by Eric Krause, Krause House Info-Research Solutions (© 1996)
All Images © Parks Canada Except Where Noted Otherwise
Report/Rapport © Parks Canada / Parcs Canada --- Report Assembly/Rapport de l'assemblée © Krause House Info-Research Solutions

Researching the Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site of Canada
Recherche sur la Forteresse-de-Louisbourg Lieu historique national du Canada

BLOCK 1

BOULANGERIE, HANGARD D'ARTILLERIE, NEW ENGLAND STOREHOUSE

LINDA HOAD

Supervised by Blaine Adams

MAY, 1967

(Fortress of Louisbourg
Report H D 08)

INTRODUCTION This is a preliminary report, based on a careful study of the available documents. Its purpose is to aid in the archaeological excavation of the buildings discussed. Due to the lack of documentary evidence, no attempt has been made to discuss the actual physical appearance or the interior furnishing and roof allocation beyond a brief outline. If it is decided to reconstruct these buildings, the documents will have to be examined again in conjunction with archaeological evidence. A. BOULANGERIE I. Chronology The chronological history of the lot on which the boulangerie was to be built begins in 1721, when Francois Dardy, a chaufournier (lime-burner) was granted a lot in Block 1 about 30 pieds square "proche son four a chaux sur la Rue du Rampart" (AFO G1, article 466, piece no. 83, f. 5v). Plan 723-1 shows a building, marked H on the property conceded to Dardy. It also appears on plan 725-9. This house was probably destroyed after Block 1 was reserved for the King in 1722, and we know that Dardy did occuy lot F in Block 33 sometime after 1723 (1735, AC B. V. 63, ff. 438-495). The actual building of the boulangerie is first mentioned in an estimation sent to the King by Verrier at de Mesy's request in 1727 [1], probably accompanied by plan 728-1. However, Verrier considered the new boularigerie unnecessary, since the ovens in the Chateau were adequate, and no further action was taken [2]. In 1729, Sabatier recommended that new ovens be built in Block 1 because of the poor condition and situation of the old ones [4]. Verrier was ordered to decide on the date for construction [5]. He indicated in December of 1730 that the ovens were not immediately essential, but promised to prepare the materials [6]. In 1731, the foundations were laid, and the rest of the materials gathered [8]. By November 1732, the ovens were completed [11], and work was in progress on the finishing touches for the rest of the building [12]. Verrier was planning to use the upper floor for a salle d'armes [10]. In October of 1733, the salle d'armes was almost finished [14], and a forge for the armourer had been constructed on the ground floor [15]. By 1734, the salle d'armes was in use, and the racks and arms were in place [19]. Verrier had found it necessary to apply a coating of daub to the rafters to prevent the snow from blowing through [20]. Thirty--one window panes were replaced, and the roof and chimney were repaired [29]. In 1735, it was suggested that a larger forge should be constructed in the proposed hangard d'artillerie since the forge in the boulangerie was only suitable for small repairs [23]. It is not known if the forge in the boulangerie was used after the completion of the new one. In 1735 three window panes were replaced in the salle d'armes [29]. During the English occupation, the upper floor of the boulangerie was used as barracks for the gunners [44], and unspecified repairs were made to the building [40]. The French found the building in poor condition, and in 1749, extensive repairs were carried out (45): the chimneys and roof were repaired, lodging for the bakers was constructed in the old salle d'armes, and a wooden shelter was built to protect the door of the boulangerie. Further repairs were made in 1750 (46) : a new well was dug, and the old one cleaned, and a room for the Master Armourer was built on the upper floor. In 1754, funds were requested for the construction of a new boulangerie [50], because the old one was in very bad condition and there was serious danger of fire [51]. However, the imminence of war prohibited the extra expense, and instead two ovens were added to the old boulangerie [52]. On the night of the 29th - 30th of September, 1756, the boulangerie caught fire and burned completely [55]. The forge and the tonnellerie (coopers' shop) were also destroyed in the fire [57]. By December of that year the location of a new boulangerie was still under discussion [59]. Apparently no new boulangerie was built, and the English reported in 1758 that the Bake-house had burned in the time of the French [60] (see plan 767-1) II. Structural Details There is no Toisé for the boulangerie and very little concrete information about the structural details. The plans and elevations are of little value since that of 1728 was not used and that of 1730 cannot be fitted into the block with the known length of the hangard d'artillerie. (The "as found" measurement of Block 1 along the Rue Toulouse is 208 feet or 32.5 toises. The hangard d'artillerie was 28 toises long [49] and plan 730-8a shows the boulangerie with a length of 10 toises.) The floor plan of the boulangerie will be revealed by archaeological excavation, but the details of the building (height of walls, roof structures window and door sizes, particularly on the upper floor) are impossible to determine. The boulangerie was an L-shaped building situated on the south-west corner of Block 1; it had a length of approximately 14 toises along the Rue Royale, and 6 toises along the Rue du Petit Etang. (plans 733-7, 735-1, 737-1, 737-6, 741-2) The roof was made of slate [20] and it would appear from the cartographic evidence that it had a gable at the east end and a hipped gable at the north end. (ibid.) The ground floor included, besides the room which contained the ovens, a salle and a distribution, and also a small forge for the armour [15]. The upper floor consisted of lodging; for the bakers, apparently above the ovens, and a salle d'armes above the salle, distribution, and forge [14,15]. After 1749, the whole upper floor was partitioned off to form lodgings for various employees - the Maître boulanger lived over the ovens (probably more than 1 room) [45-9]; the bakers lived in what had been the salle d'armes [45-11]; and the Maître armurier lived in the same area after 1750 [48-13]; the armourers and the gardien du magasin général also lived over the boulangerie [47]. It seems safe to assume that the salle d'ames above the boulangerie was not repaired and used for that purpose. Boucher gave an estimation for the replacement off the racks destroyed by the English [44] but this item never appears in a repair toisé. The French used the salle d'armes above the New England Storehouse which was already equipped for storing arrows and supplies [38]. The two original ovens are shown in the same location on plans 728-1 and 730-8a - in the south west corner of the building. The location of the two additional ovens is unknown. The materials used to repair the ovens in 1750 were brick, a type of tile, lime and sand. [48-8] The entrance to the boulangerie seems to have been through a door off the courtyard, situated at the interior angle formed by the two wings of the building;. In 1749, a wooden structure was built around this door to protect it from the snow. This cabanot d'hiver was constructed of timber and covered with planks [45-19]. (see plan 751-18)

There appear to have been 2 wells in the vicinity, of the boulangerie. The first well is shown in a different location on plans 728-1 and 730-8a, but it is probably somewhere near the entrance. The construction of the well was similar to the one shown in the elevation on plan 728-1. In 1749, the lip (margelle) was constructed (or possibly reconstructed) with timber and planks [45-20, 21). A possible location for the second well, built "right beside the building" in 1750 [48-l], is shown on plan 751-7. The well was constructed of brick masonry, surrounded by dry masonry to facilitate the collection of water in the well. The margelle was similar to that of the first well, and it had in addition a cover of timber and planking. [48-3- 3-7]

The location of the staircase and several wooden partitions is not known from documentary evidence. At least a part of the lower storey had a wooden floor [45-23]. The distribution was roughcast and there was possibly a fireplace in this room [45-7].

In 1749, 3 kneading-troughs (mettes) of various sites were built for the boulangerie. They were made of timber covered with planks and rested on 8 timber blocks [45-1,2,4]. A large trestle table was also constructed [45-3]. In the distribution 2 storage areas (soupentes) were built of heavy planks in order to preserve the bread from rats. Each closet had 4 shelves and was reinforced and barred [45-16, 17). It is possible that these soupentes were built underneath the staircase. Beside the distribution an armoire, also of heave planks, was built for the bakers [45-l8].

A large number of the windows must have had window panes, since so many were replaced and cleaned [45-28, 29] [48-34). The original estimation included cut stone for the doors and or widows [1], and this may aid the archaeologist in locating these features.

1n the original estimation [1] and in plans 728-1 and 730-8a, there was paving around the building and in the room where the ovens were situated.

The courtyard was surrounded by a picket fence [48-16]. In 1749, a wooden shed built by the English, which occupied a part of the boulangerie courtyard, was demolished [45-26].

The location of the tonnellerie is rot known, but since it burned at the same time as the boulangerie, it must have been in that vicinity, and not near the Magazin de Verres as stated in the report on that building. Mme Mayrand suggested that the tonnellerie may hare occupied that section of the boulangerie north of the ovens.

B. HANGARD D'ARTILLERIE

I. Chronology

The property on which the hangard d'artillerie was to be built was conceded to Lartigue in 1717 (AFO G1, v. 462, f. 71). His property and dwellings are indicated in plan ND-105. Lartigue still lived in Block 1 in 1732 because Verrier had to take part of his garden to form the courtyard of the boulangerie [9]. However, he must have moved out shortly afterwards since there was no delay in the construction of the hangard. Plan 739-1 indicates that Lartigue had not completely given up his holdings by that date.

In 1729, Sabatier first mentioned the need for a forge for the armourer and a shed for storing wood and to serve as a workshop in the winter [4]. Verrier sent a plan and an estimation for the hangard at Le Normant's request in 1734. The building was to house the wood for gun carriages and would be used for work corrected with the artillery [21]. The plan was approved and the money was promised for 1736 [22]. Le Normant requested that a forge be constructed in the new hangard, and Verrier sent an addition to the estimation in December of 1735 [23]. St. Ovide objected to the construction of this hangard because he felt that it was not really necessary and that there was more important work to be done [24]. In spite of his objection, the King sent the money in 1736 with instructions to build the hangard it was really necessary [25]. By November of 1736 the building was almost completed [25, 27]. By December of that year, Le Normant had begun storing wood in the hangard. He also intended to store the extra gun carriages there [28]. Verrier sent the Toise définitif for the hangard in December 1737, [30] but unfortunately this document has not yet been located.

The hangard proved to be most unsuitable for storing wood, since the roof leaked and it. was almost continually full of water [31]. Le Normant explained in 1738 that this was because Verrier had not had time in 1736 to lower the level of the street beside the hangard. However he had since lowered the street level and the level of the courtyard [33]. He and Verrier rejected St. Ovide's recommendation to raise the walls of the building and form a second storey, and to replace the slate roof by a shingled one [33, 34]. Bigot did not seem worried about the condition of the gun carriages which he stored in the hangard in 1744 [35].

The English described the hangard as a barn "having neither ceiling, pavement or floor", and considered it to be badly situated [37]. They made several repairs to the building [36] which included levelling, dressing and cleaning out the Ordnance Shot Yard [38], removing stores from. the old Ordinance Storehouse, placing new stores in it [39], cleaning the Old Storehouse, piling and organizing shot and shells in the Ordnance Shot Yard [40], cutting a gutter down Gun Lane [38], and sorting stores in order to take a General Remain [41].

The French felt that the hangard would need several essential repairs in 1749 [42]. Apparently the old forge was not fit for service since Bigot had to rent one [43]. The roof of the hangard was indicated for repairs also [44], and this work was completed by December of 1749 [45-30]. It was suggested in 1749 that the Magasins be continued along the Quay and the hangard raised to form a salle d'armes [44B]

The gun-carriages were stored in the hangard in 1750 [46] and the forge was repaired [47]. A rather elaborate shop for the armourer was constructed in the hangard at the same time [48].

Fanquet reported in 1753 that the hangard still tended to be filled with water in the winter (two feet!). He recommended that the walls be raised and an attic be added to the building [49]. By 1754, Franquet had moved all the supplies out of the hangard because of the dampness. He again recommended that a second storey be added, to be used as a salle aux armes, an armourer's shop and a storehouse [51]. The imminence of war prevented this scheme from being carried out [53].

About 14 toises of the hangard was burned in the fire of 1756, thus destroying the forge, and any plans for improving the building [58]. In December of 1756, the hangard was no longer in use, and a sort of shed had been built along one side to protect a valuable ship's cable [59].

The English reported in 1758 that the Stone Carriage Shed had burned in the time of the French [60]. They must have made some repairs to the building because it appears on plan 767-1 as the King's Arseral, and on plan 768-1 as the King's Stables.

II. Structural Details

As in the case of the boulangerie, there is no accurate plan or toisé for the hangard. However it was a simpler structure and we do have accurate measurements of the building given by Franquet.

The hangard was situated as in plan 737-1, stretching from the boulangerie to the quay along the Rue du Petit E tang. Franquet stated that it was a masonry structure, 28 toises long by 4 toises 1 pied 3 pouces wide, with a slate roof. An 18 pieds section was partitioned off, probably by a masonry wall, for the armourer's forge and work shop [49]. The walls were only from 6 to 7 pieds high [31] and according to the English account there was no paving or floor [37]. The estimation would indicate a brick chimney and hearth in the forge [23]. None of the plans show the allocation of windows or doors, except 737-5, which is of doubtful accuracy.

The repair toise of 1749 gives us a fairly accurate idea of the structural details of the forge, although we know little of the rest of the building except its contents. Cartographic evidence would suggest that the roof had a hipped gable at both ends (plans 735-1, 737-6, 739-1, 741-2, 751-7. See also plans 737-1 and 751-8 which are contradictory.) The forge itself was made of bricks masonry [48-22] and the anvil was surrounded by paving [48-21]. There were several large timber work benches (établis) in the forge, and there is a possibility that this area had a wooden floor or that there was floor above this area forming an attic under the roof [43-17, 13, 19].

There was one large window in the forge which had a wooden sill and plank revetment [48-20]. This window had a single shutter which was closed by means of a pulley. The shutter was secured by 3 hooks and eyes [48-29, 27]. If this window opened onto the street, it was barred as well (48-27). Two sashes are mentioned in the toisé and four shutters, including the shutter or shutters for the Master Armourer's lodging (over the boulangerie). There seems to have been a window facing onto the courtyard (48-12), and another window facing onto the street [48-33].

There was also a door leading into the armourers work shop but its location is unspecified [48-28]. There must have been several other doors in the building, and possibly one in the partition wall. Several racks for arms and a bar for the door were also supplied in 1750 [48-25].

According to the estimation sent by Verrier, the courtyard was surrounded by pickets [23]. The English built a latrine in the courtyard of the hangard, rear the window of the forge, which was removed by the French in 1750 [48-12]. (for possible location see plan 746-8). There is a possibility of paving along the street beside the forge (48-21).

The hangard was always subject to a drainage problem. In 1738, Verrier lowered the level of the street to 18 pouces below the floor level of the building, and the courtyard to 1 pied below floor level [34] - apparently with little effect. He stated that the slope of the street and of the courtyard was 4 pieds. The English built a gutter along the Rue du Petit Etang in 1747 [38], but the drainage problem still remained in the 1750's [49].

C. NEW ENGLAND STOREHOUSE

The New Englanders constructed quite a number of frame buildings during their stay in Louisbourg. The new Ordnance Storehouse in Block 1, completed and in use by August of 1747, was one of the first of these to be built. (see Plan 746-8) It was probably constructed in the same manner as the addition to the Stone Victualling Storehouse - a prefabricated timber frame placed over a masonry foundation.

According to Franquet, the building was constructed entirely of wood and was 19 toises 3 pieds 6 pouces long by 5 toises 6 pouces widen It was a two storey structure with a salle d'armes on the upper floor 11 toises in length [49]. There was also an attic in the building [43]. The Wright view of Louisbourg (766-1) gives us a good idea of the appearance of the building. There are two chimneys shown, one at either end of the building, although the one at the north end may be that of the Magasin des vivres. The roof appears to be gabled, although several French plans show it as being a hipped gable (plan 751-18). There are two tiers of windows along the sides of the building, but it is impossible to tell how many were on each side. Three dormers are shown as well. The facade has windows on either side of a central door on both floors, and some sort of small window in the gable above the door.

The New Englanders supplied a writing desk and several racks for the New Ordnance Storehouse [38] They stored ladles, sponges, rammers and other artillery equipment as well as small arms, (for example, muskets, pistols, and blunderbusses) in the armoury. In the lower section of the storehouse they stored "oats and Indian corn for the cattle belonging to the works" [38].

In 1749, Desherbiers and Pretest recommended that the New England Storehouse be moved to the Princess Bastion or to the Brouillan Bastion and used for storing war supplies [44B]. This plan was not implemented and the French continued to use the building; the lower section was used for dry provisions, and half the upper floor served as a salle d'armes [44A] (see plan 751-8). In 1753, Franquet reported that there were 4010 rifles stored on four racks. He recommended again that the building be moved and the magasin extended, and suggested that the salle d'armes be placed in the proposed extension [49]. This plan was apparently not carried out.

The New England Storehouse weathered the siege fairly well [60], and it continues to appear on maps after 1758. (see plan 768-1)

D. DOCUMENTS (Note: Not available at this time)

E. PLANS

LIST:

723-1

725-9

728-1

730-8a

733-7

ND-105

735-1

737-1

737-5

737-6

739-1 7

741-2

746-8

751-7

751-8

766-1

767-1

768-1

Return to the First Page

Retour à la page première