Early Fortification Ditches At Le Aux Noix Quebec

Given the various phases in the development of Ile aux Noix's defensive role, this document has adopted a chronological division for the order of chapters. Thus, roughly speaking, the first three coincide with the main conflicts in which Ile aux Noix played a preponderant role: the Seven Years' War, the American War of Independence and the War of 1812. The three following chapters are more particularly concerned with Fort Lennox, which in a way was the end point of the island's defensive installations. After an assessment of the defensive situation which led to the construction of the fort, a complete chapter is devoted to its detailed technical analysis. Thus, space is given to the technical assessment of the fortification, and the implications for its defensive role are given particular attention. Chapter six analyses the last occasions on which thought was given to Ile aux Noix's defensive purpose and the modifications that this thinking produced.

This report presents the results of archaeological research carried out by the National Historic Parks and Sites Branch in 1964 on 11 buildings or areas to the north of Fort Lennox: the 18th-century English fort, the garrison hospital, the hospital cooking house, the garrison bakehouse, the barracks, the gun shed, the ordinance store, the forge and smith's shop, a lime kiln area, a well area, and a possible canteen-root house area. All are of 19th-century date with the exception of the English fort.

The 1965-66 excavations of the right redoubt and blockhouse at Fort Lennox National Park, Quebec are described in this report. The structural remains of the blockhouse and the features found in a test of the redoubt rampart and casemates are discussed. The archaeological features are correlated with historical plans and elevation drawings of the redoubt. The artificats, mostly from the debris of the later navy yard period (1813-34), are described and used to confirm the dating of the redoubt and blockhouse structures. The report provides data for comparative studies and may also serve as the basis for the planning of future excavations.