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One of Fort York’s original interior spaces, the southernmost barrack room of the 1815 brick South Soldiers’ Barracks, is slated for major work this year. The room will undergo archaeological investigation as part of a major restoration and refit that, when completed, will return it to the visitor’s itinerary. Initially, the south barrack room will offer exhibit space; in the longer term it will be fitted out as a recreated garrison school room to add a new dimension to the Fort’s education program by offering opportunities to explore themes of literacy and education in both the historical and contemporary contexts.
The South Soldiers’ Barracks is one of two identical brick structures constructed in 1815 as part of the peacetime garrison after the War of 1812. Like its twin, the North Soldiers’ Barracks, it remains an important architectural survivor as well as a tangible record of the key army reforms of the early 19th century that led to purpose-built soldier housing in the Georgian era. Built originally as a 100-man or company-sized barrack, the building was divided into three equal-sized rooms laid out to accommodate 32 men, a number that was reduced in the 1820s when the army replaced double-high wooden berths and bedsteads with individual iron cots. Over time the barrack rooms underwent many changes, from multi-occupant accommodation, to sergeants’ messes and school rooms, to married couples’ apartments.
Reconfiguration of the room as a garrison school is particularly exciting for museum programmers since it will broaden the Fort’s story to include the historical role of education and the British Army’s renowned regimental school system. This remains a fascinating study since many are unaware of the army’s attempt to educate the lower ranks and their dependents as part of its bid to maintain a professional, literate and self-sufficient army. In fact, the British Army had a long tradition of offering education to its troops and their families–in early times through the courtesy of the colonel’s pocket book and later as a matter of army policy. There was great concern on the part of army commanders that children of Britain’s land forces in particular needed to prepare for livelihoods both on and off the army establishment. Eventually, the rank of “Serjeant Schoolmaster” became part of the army organisation.
In its public museum life, the south barrack room has played many roles. From the 1960s until the mid-1980s the room was partitioned into administrative offices. Along with the office space was an “arsenal” for storage of the Fort York Guard’s uniforms, equipment and muskets, as well as a utility space for equipment repair and the preparation of musket and artillery cartridges. Following that configuration, the room became a costume shop managed by tailoring staff tasked with keeping the Fort’s large interpretive/animation staff clothed. The most recent conversion occurred in the late 1980s to early 90s when the room was renovated with the addition of a purpose-built black powder laboratory/clean room, musket lock-up, staff laundry facility and retail storage area.
Current work on the south barrack room requires relocation of the site’s black powder laboratory and musket storage. Plans are underway to re-establish an approved “clean room” for the manufacture of blank musket and artillery demonstration rounds used on site during the summer months. At the same time plans for a new, permanent, laboratory are being undertaken by the City’s Cultural Affairs section and museum staff, in consultation with Natural Resources Canada (NRC), Explosives Regulatory Branch. This will be combined with improved onsite musket storage being developed in consultation with city staff, the RCMP and the Chief Firearms Officer.
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