The King's Storehouse

The King's Storehouse was the main storage area for the wide variety of royal supplies that came to Louisbourg. Supplies such as food stores for winter brought over from France, basic civilian necessities (candles), as well as furniture and fabrics which were imported from various ports were common.

Erected between 1725 and 1726, it was a massive L-shaped masonry building with a slate roof, earthen floor, and a piquet style fence surrounding the grounds. As time passed this storehouse required frequent repairs. In 1734, it was suggested by Antoine Sabatier, a local royal official, that the roof of the storehouse be repaired and that a coating of mud or clay be applied as a sealer. Snow blowing into the attic was damaging the building as well as the goods which were being stored there. In 1738, Sabatier informed the minister that sometimes the waves would get so high they would beat against the foot of the storehouse wall. In 1740, it was also requested by François Bigot that the roof be repaired because he believed the dampness and the snow were causing the stored vegetables to rot.

Between 1745 and 1749, during the British occupation at Louisbourg, they considered the magasin du roi or the King's storehouse, to be more of a barn than a storehouse. In any case, they made moderate repairs to the building and when the French were given back the fortress in 1749 they considered the storehouse to be completely repaired. However, repairs to the roof would be carried out before the year's end. The destruction of this massive building occurred during the siege of 1758.