Minto Armoury

Minto Armoury

View of the Minto Armoury from the southeast of the building on St. Matthews.
General information
Type Drill Hall / armoury
Architectural style Tudor Revival style
Location Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Address 969 St. Matthews
Current tenants The Royal Winnipeg Rifles, Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada
Construction started 1914
Completed 1915
Owner Canadian Forces
Design and construction
Architect

David Ewart, Chief Dominion Architect

Official name Minto Armoury National Historic Site of Canada
Designated 1991

The Minto Armoury is a prominent and historic structure in the West End of Winnipeg, Manitoba. The armoury is currently the home base of The Royal Winnipeg Rifles, The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada, and several other reserve units. The building remains an active military structure. It is noted for its smooth integration into the character of neighbourhood and remains a local landmark, both factors have help to certify the Minto Armoury as a Recognized Federal Heritage Building.[1]

Architecture

The armoury was designed by Chief Dominion Architect David Ewart, and was opened the next year and work on the structure was completed in 1915. The Minto Armoury is an example of Tudor Revival architecture designed by Fuller. It has Canada's standard fortress motif with square corner towers and the arched entrance.[1] The distinctive red bricks that were part of the buildings design were originally produced by the Sidney Brickworks company, the company's bricks were also used on important sites such as the St. Edward’s Roman Catholic Church on Arlington Avenue in Winnipeg.[2]

History

A fire destroyed the original wooden roof structure on January 22, 1956. Most of the regimental trophies and records, musical instruments, kilts, and rifles were rescued from the fire as responders got to the scene.[3] The roof was then replaced with its current steel truss structure that is in use today.[4] The building was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1991.[1]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Minto Armoury". Canada's Historic Places. Retrieved 2016-04-14.
  2. ↑ "Historic Sites of Manitoba: Sidney Brickworks (Sidney, RM of North Norfolk)". Manitoba Historical Society. Retrieved 2016-04-14.
  3. ↑ "West End History: Minto Armouries Fire (1956)". West End Dumplings. 22 January 2012. Retrieved 2016-04-14.
  4. ↑ "Historic Sites of Manitoba: Minto Armoury (969 St. Matthews Avenue, Winnipeg)". Manitoba Historical Society. Retrieved 2016-04-14.
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Coordinates: 44°39′6.4″N 63°35′13.1″W / 44.651778°N 63.586972°W / 44.651778; -63.586972

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