Home Page
Wesleyville
Heritage House
My Artwork
|
Newtown is located at the Northern tip of Bonavista Bay, and was settled in the early 1800's when fishermen relocated to the place then called "Inner Islands" from other nearby islands. The location was chosen for its protected small natural harbours and channels (called "tickles") which resemble canals between the various islands and the mainland. Thus the nickname "The Venice of Newfoundland". Unlike much of Newfoundland, the land is flat, marshy, rocky and relatively treeless near the coast, and is known as the oceanic barrens. The area is however full of strikingly beautiful scenery with white sandy beaches, and views of the ocean dotted with islands. Some of Newtown's neighbouring communities include Wesleyville, the birthplace of David Blackwood, and Greenspond, one of the oldest settlements in the province. Eight communities, including Newtown, now form the municipality of New-Wes-Valley, population 3,000. The population of the local Newtown area including the other nearby island villages was once more than a thousand, but throughout most of the twentieth century, it was about five to six hundred. The ancestry of the population is English; with some of the first settler's names, still present today, being; Hall, Sainsbury, Green, Perry, Tiller, Roberts, Hefferton, Way, Gill, Vincent & Barbour. Once very traditional in architecture, the community is now the location of the Barbour Heritage Village, containing original buildings dating to 1875 and restored premises of the Barbour family. In my photos and art here I try to show some of the character and history of this part of the island of Newfoundland. |
Barbours Tickle circa 1940 (Photo H Bradley)
View from Pound Cove
Newtown, which is located at the Northern tip of Bonavista Bay, was
settled in the early 1800's. Once very traditional in architecture, the
community is now the location of the Barbour Living Heritage Village, containing
some of the original buildings and restored premises of the Barbour family.
The following photos offer a glimpse of some of the character and history
of this part of the island of Newfoundland.
View of St.Lukes Anglican Church, Newtown
The church was built in 1895, and is virtually unchanged.
The Tickle at Barbours Point, Newtown
Slightly retouched photo showing L-R: rear Benjamin Barbour home, E
& S Barbour restored waterfront premises, and Capt. Alphaeus Barbour
home.
Alpheaus Barbour House
built 1904, is Victorian - Queen Anne style. The home was maintained
until a few years ago by the Edward Barbour family and is now part of the
Barbour Living Heritage Village. In this photo, the house is very much
as it appears today, for a look at a retouched picture, showing the Captain's
walk, and the corner verandah, go to the section of my page entitled "heritage
home".
Barbours Point, Newtown
View showing the older Barbour House on the right, built by my ancestor
Benjamin Barbour and sons in 1875. This house has since undergone
restoration. It is an interesting design having five staircases and twelve
bedrooms. The interior is an authentic museum, being unchanged from the
last century.
E & S Barbour General Store at Newtown
I took the photo in the 1970's, and have altered it based upon actual
photos to show the building in its original design. In the actual photo,
the roofline had been lowered, and the circular window and upper sections
of the second floor windows had been removed. The shop dates from the 19th
century, and was still run by Edward Barbour in the 1970's. Another building
reminiscent of this exists nearby on the heritage site today.