96 Prince of Wales - Bulkley Division
Fort Tipperary was designated a Provincial Historic Site for its association with New Brunswick’s military history and for its potential as an archaeological site.
Fort Tipperary, along with three coastal blockhouses, was planned as part of the defensive network for the important but exposed Town of St. Andrews during the War of 1812.
Situated at the back of the community, Fort Tipperary had a commanding view of the settlement and the approach by sea. The War of 1812 ended and peace was restored before the fort was completed, and the garrison departed shortly after the signing of the Treaty of Ghent in 1814.
The star shaped fort consisted of stockade on earthen ramparts that measured approximately 400 x 200 feet. Other fortifications of the same period exist in the province, but their earthworks have not survived to the same extent as those of Fort Tipperary’s.
The site has value in the potential archaeological features and artefacts of a fortification of this configuration from the War of 1812.
Fort Tipperary was re-armed in the 1860s during the threat of the Fenian Raids and was later used by the Provincial militia for training.
In 1901-1902, the barracks were demolished to construct a summer home for Sir Thomas and Lady Shaugnessey. Lord Shaughnessy was President of the Canadian Pacific Railway Company from 1899 to 1918 and during his tenure the CPR doubled its track mileage and diversified to into mining and a steamship line. He died in Montreal in May 1937 but his wife, the Hon. Marguerite Shaughnessey, continued to summer at Fort Tipperary and eventually, in 1942, converted it into a year-round residence.
Fort Tipperary remained in the Shaughnessy family for 83 years, receiving distinguished guests from prime ministers to princesses and hosting many events for town organizations, until it was sold to the Province of New Brunswick in 1985. It was used as a conference center and culinary school facility until the building burned in 2005. The Province subsequently rebuilt it to the original plans in 2008-2009 and sold it again into residential use.
The character-defining elements include:
The character-defining elements of the Fort Tipperary residence include:
The character-defining elements of the Fort Tipperary property include:
Architectural Style: Shingle Style
Sources: Province of New Brunswick, Department of Wellness, Culture and Sport, Heritage Branch, Site File # 64. Willa Walker, “No Hay Fever and a Railway” p.106-110, St. Andrews Civic Trust
Fort Tipperary, along with three coastal blockhouses, was planned as part of the defensive network for the important but exposed Town of St. Andrews during the War of 1812.
Situated at the back of the community, Fort Tipperary had a commanding view of the settlement and the approach by sea. The War of 1812 ended and peace was restored before the fort was completed, and the garrison departed shortly after the signing of the Treaty of Ghent in 1814.
The star shaped fort consisted of stockade on earthen ramparts that measured approximately 400 x 200 feet. Other fortifications of the same period exist in the province, but their earthworks have not survived to the same extent as those of Fort Tipperary’s.
The site has value in the potential archaeological features and artefacts of a fortification of this configuration from the War of 1812.
Fort Tipperary was re-armed in the 1860s during the threat of the Fenian Raids and was later used by the Provincial militia for training.
In 1901-1902, the barracks were demolished to construct a summer home for Sir Thomas and Lady Shaugnessey. Lord Shaughnessy was President of the Canadian Pacific Railway Company from 1899 to 1918 and during his tenure the CPR doubled its track mileage and diversified to into mining and a steamship line. He died in Montreal in May 1937 but his wife, the Hon. Marguerite Shaughnessey, continued to summer at Fort Tipperary and eventually, in 1942, converted it into a year-round residence.
Fort Tipperary remained in the Shaughnessy family for 83 years, receiving distinguished guests from prime ministers to princesses and hosting many events for town organizations, until it was sold to the Province of New Brunswick in 1985. It was used as a conference center and culinary school facility until the building burned in 2005. The Province subsequently rebuilt it to the original plans in 2008-2009 and sold it again into residential use.
The character-defining elements include:
- its context and commanding view;
- its almost completely intact earthen ramparts;
- two bronze 9-pounder cannons (demi-culverins) related to the War of 1812;
- two iron 32-pounder cannons (demi-cannons) related to a rearming of the fort in response to the Fenian Raids.
The character-defining elements of the Fort Tipperary residence include:
- wood shingle cladding
- stone chimneys
The character-defining elements of the Fort Tipperary property include:
- location on a large property that maintains historic open space
- large semi-circular driveway
Architectural Style: Shingle Style
Sources: Province of New Brunswick, Department of Wellness, Culture and Sport, Heritage Branch, Site File # 64. Willa Walker, “No Hay Fever and a Railway” p.106-110, St. Andrews Civic Trust
