St. Andrews Blockhouse National Historic Site of Canada

St. Andrews Blockhouse is a wooden defensive structure located on the west point of the harbour at the extreme edge of the historic town of Saint Andrews, New Brunswick.

St. Andrews Blockhouse was designated a National Historic Site because it is

- one of the few surviving Canadian examples of a type of military architecture,

- significant for its defensive role during the War of 1812.

The heritage value of St. Andrews Blockhouse lies in its illustration of a specific type of defensive structure, and in its origins during the War of 1812. It was built in 1812-13 by the citizens of Saint Andrews to safeguard against American raiders. During the late 19th century, it became a picturesque tourist attraction in the resort town of Saint Andrews, then was acquired and restored by National Historic Sites (1962-1967). The blockhouse was seriously damaged by fire in 1993, and once again restored to its early appearance.

Source: HSMBC Minutes, May and November 1962, July 1966; Commemorative Integrity Statement.

Key features contributing to the heritage value of this site include:

- the two-storey, square massing,

- its tripartite design with squat lower storey, overhanging upper storey, and pyramidal roof,

- the symmetrical articulation with a central door and regular window openings,

- defensive design with few door and window openings and many gun slits,

- the structural integrity of the blockhouse which has been maintained over nearly two centuries,

- its wooden construction materials,

- siting on a point of land with unobstructed viewplanes of the sea, the harbour, the town and its hinterland,

- its visibility from the harbour and the waterfront of the historic town of Saint Andrews.