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

 PALISADES & FENCES: 
DIMENSIONS AND FINISHES

BY
 ERIC KRAUSE

MARCH 12, 1985

(Fortress of Louisbourg
Report H F 25 1985 01)

APPENDIX  A

1970

6.  12 February 1970 - Dauphin Demi-Bastion (General)

- palisade to be similar to the previous design

- also based on the artifact found in the ditch near the King's Bastion

- ribbon

- placed on the palisade without having the palisade surface levelled

- fastened by the use of pegs

- blocking

- to be an additional palisade

7.  3 March 1970 - Dauphin Demi-Bastion

- "As-Found" palisade found in ditch had a horizontal peg hole not sloped as indicated on the design*sketch

- ribbon 

- 1751-28 indicates a rectangular ribbon which would allow a peg to be installed horizontally 

- rectangular ribbon with pegs for the K.Q. outerworks

- triangular ribbon with nails for the Dauphin

- other proposed details pertaining to ribbands were approved

8.  19 August 1970 - Courtyard - Block I

a) Ancien Magasin/Engineer's House Property

- so called "cornerposts" of a "repaired" piquet fence approximately 10 pieds intervals

- braces placed against these posts at an approximate angle of 60 to 65 degrees

- whole fence buried some 2 feet deep in a prepared trench

- upper and lower (interior and exterior) ribbon made from planks nailed to the piquets

- above ground height of this fence: 5' 7" following the occupational level grade

b) Bakery/Forge Yard

- so called "cornerposts" of a piquet fence should be 8-9 pouces square/round

- placed every 10 pieds (unless found otherwise in the excavations)

- braces for these posts placed at an approximate angle of 60-65 degrees

- whole fence buried in a prepared trench 2 feet deep

- instead of piquets, however, planks 1 1/2 to 2 pouces thick nailed to each side were to be used, producing a fence 1 pied thick

- height above ground: 6' 7" following the occupational level grade

9.  21 October 1970 - Courtyard: Block I

    a) Quay Fence: Hangard D'Artillerie

- in principle, the design as shown on the attached sketch was accepted (based on five examples of historical evidence)

i) buried-depth of post varies from 1' 6" - 1' 0" (sic: 1' 6" to 2' 0" perhaps correct) to no posts due to rocks

ii) size of posts: 9" to 5" diameters

iii) height above ground: 8' 6"

iv) tops pointed: 8"

v) fir, pine, spruce with bark peeled off

vi) width of planks: 1' 0" - 4 1/2"

vii) length of planks: 7' 0" - 6' 0"

viii) thickness of planks: +/- 1 1/2"

ix) type of planks: fir, pine, spruce

x) ribbon: 3" thick, 8" wide

xi) braces placed at approximately 18' intervals

xii) braces set at 60 o angle

xiii) braces retained by 8 9/16" pegs 

    b) The South Bdy. Fence: Hangard D'Artillerie

In principle, the design on the attached sketch was accepted (based on two examples of historical evidence and on an "as-found" post with ribband). 

i) buried depth of post varies-from 1' 7'"- 2' 0, with trench dug the entire length

ii) size of posts: 9" to 4" diameters

iii) height above ground: 5' 7" based on "as found" post (or 7' 7" as one example of historical evidence suggests)

iv) tops pointed: 7"

v) fir, pine, spruce with bark peeled off

vi) ribbon: 2" thick, 8" wide (possibly based on "as-found" ribbon)

vii) braces placed at approximately 20' intervals

viii) braces at 60 o angle

ix) braces set 1' 6" into the ground

HF251985_5a.jpg (213787 bytes) HF251985_5b.jpg (275952 bytes)
HF251985_5c.jpg (254146 bytes) HF251985_5d.jpg (252981 bytes)

c) The West Bdy. Fence: Magasin General Property

i) if built, similar to South Bdy. fence except 8' 6" height

d) The East Bdy. Fence: Laundry/Stables Yard

In principle, the design on the attached sketch was accepted (based on three examples of historical evidence).

i) buried depth of posts varies from 1' 7" to 2' 0", with trench dug the entire length

ii) size of posts: 9" to 4" diameters, with squared posts at corners

iii) height above ground: 5' 7"

iv) tops pointed: 7"

v) fir, pine, spruce with bark peeled off

vi) ribbon: 2" thick, 7" wide

vii) braces placed at approximately 17' intervals 

viii) braces at 60 o angle

ix) braces set 1' 6" into the ground

e) The West Bdy. Fence: Laundry/Stables Yard

In principle, the design on the attaches sketch was accepted (based on two examples of historical evidence).

i) buried depth of post varies from 1' 10" to 2' 1" with trench dug the entire length

ii) size of posts: 9" to 4" diameter

iii) height above ground: 6' 7" (max. due to latr. height)

iv) tops pointed: 7"

v) fir, pine, spruce with bark peeled off

vi) ribbon: 2" thick, 8" wide

vii) braces placed at approximately 20' intervals 

viii) braces At 60 o angle

ix) braces set 1' 6" into the ground

HF251985_6a.jpg (199493 bytes)

10. 17 November 1970 - Dauphin Demi-Bastion Outer Defensive Works

- historical memos (See Section B of this memorandum)

- ribbon: triangular with diagonal dimensions of approximately  ± 6 pouces

- ribbon: diagonal face set into a notch or slash on the palisade

- ribbon: could be produced from timber 4 x 4 or 4 x 5 pouces

- ribbon: hewn pine or spruce

- palisade slash or notch: will create a flat surface on the palisade on which the ribbon could be nailed

NOTE: Extensive Comments on Comment Sheet Regarding the Ribbons

11.  1 December 1970 - Queen's-King's Outer Defensive Works

- "As-Found" palisades located in the Queen's Place of Arms:

i) palisades had a notch 4 pouces wide, 1 pouce deep, approximately 2 pieds from pointed end

- probably ribbon: 

- 4 pouces wide

- rectangular

- set 1 pouce into palisade

- ribbon thickness: 

- 1751-28 shows a 2 pouce thick (4 pouce wide) surface mounted ribbon

- 1724, 1733, 1737 and 1751 specifications suggest 4 x 4 and 4 x 5 pouce ribbons

- team recommendation on ribbons:

i) width - 4 pouces

ii) thickness - 2 1/2 pouces (approximately)

iii) production band saw a 4 x 5 pouce hewn timber into two halves or use a piece 4 x 2 1/2 pouce (approx.) with sawing

iv) pegging - Yes

v) notches - squarely cut (some "as-founds" indicate that the notches were cut with a saw)

HF251985_7a.jpg (203986 bytes)

12.  8 December 1970 - Dauphin (Phase D)

a) Ribband Design

- King's Bastion Place of Arms ribbon design was too large and, unfortunately, was built even larger

- previous Dauphin ribband too large

- recommendation:

i) use a 4 x 4 pouce stock

ii) saw diagonally, producing the ± 6 pouce dimensions mentioned in the documents

iii) triangular ribband to be mounted in a slash made on the palisade

iv) nailed in place

- palisade slash: based on piquet artifact found in Block I courtyard 

b) Continuous or Staggered Ribband

- 1751-28 sectional view suggests the ribbon was doubled (one above the other

- 1751-28 does not show a staggered ribband arrangement in the elevation below

- no decision was made


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