Ferryland Lighthouse

Ferryland is one of those places where history feels present and layered into the land itself. Marty and I made our way along the coastline of Newfoundland, where the road fellows the edge of the Atlantic, and each turn reveals another stretch of rugged shoreline.

Arriving in Ferryland, there is a sense that this place has been important for a very long time. In the early 1600s, this small stretch of land became home to the Colony of Avalon, one of the first organized English settlements in North America.

The colony was established around 1621 by George Calver, an English nobleman. His vision was not just economic it was also deeply personal. At at time when England was divided by religious conflict, Calvert hoped to create a place where Catholics and Protestants could live together more peacefully.

The settlers who came here were primarily from England, and they faced the full reality of life on this exposed coastline. The environment was harsh, supplies were limited, and the winters were difficult. Despite these challenges, the colony did function for a number of years as a working community, with homes, storehouses and fortifications.

However, the settlement was relatively short-lived. By 1629, less than a decade after it was established, Calvewrt abandoned the colony. The combination of severe weather, isolation and ongoing tensions made it difficult to sustain. Calvert left and later founded what would become Maryland, continuing his idea of religious tolerance.  

The remains of that early settlement are still visible: low stone walls, outlines for structures and preserved archaeological areas gave us a sense of the life once lived here.  

A short walk along the path leads out to the Ferryland Lighthouse, standing on the edge of the cliffs. Built in the late 19th century, it has watched over the coastline for generations, building ships through unpredictable waters.  

Ferryland was a place to stand in a landscape where history, intention and the natural world came together.