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4 bedroom Vacation Home for Rent – Seaside Retreat – Overlooking the Historic Village of Brigus NL.

Four bedrooms, 2 full bathroom – powder room – 1,500 square foot Ocean View

Private patio – great views

Private deck – Patio set and BBQ
Large fully equipped ultra modern kitchen
Pine floors and custom detailing throughout

Washer and dryer

Bathrooms: 2 – 4 piece private ensuites and 1-4 Piece – on upper level

1 queen – master with ensuite – 3 Double bedroons

High speed wireless internet

Covered front deck , back patio with furniture and large propane bbq that leads to a professionally designed rock garden with more seating and a view of the ocean. Situated on a very quiet, quaint little street in the heart of the community.

Over looks Historic Brigus Settlement with panaromic views of the harbour and the Atlantic Ocean
Private fishing – cod gigging – whale watching charters available
Private walking and historical tours can be arranged

The bike and walking trails are easily accessible

Enjoy the beach at Brigus Harbour. Go deap sea fishing, whale watching or visit the many histoirical sites.

“Brigus” is derived from “Brickhouse”, an old town in England. As one of Newfoundland’s great heritage of old historic settlements, Brigus stands out as one of those in the forefront.

It counts among its settlers, pioneers from England, Ireland and Wales. It was at one time one of the major sealing ports. In 1947, Brigus sent sixty-six vessels to the seal hunt and over half were captained by natives of Brigus.

Brigus can trace its history back to the year 1612, when the Spracklin family purchased half the harbour from John Guy. It was incorporated in 1964 and today has its own Town Recreation Center and fully trained Fire Department.

It is the home of Newfoundland’s first and only true Blueberry Festival, held each year in August.

Nestled between hills overlooking the sea, its beauty has been captured by artists and photographers the world over.

Old world charm,oceanfront setting with modern accommodation. Come for a visit or vacation of a lifetime.

Visit us at Brigus Newfoundland Rentals.

Brigus - St George Church

All of the original woodwork has been retained. It is a landmark in Brigus, both from the land and sea. It served the Anglican Congregation of Brigus and some surrounding areas as a church, until it was sold (to the St. George’s Heritage Committee Inc.) in 2004. It received recognition of its important historical value when it became a registered heritage structure in 2004.

Visitors can see the beautifully carved altar, pulpit, choir pews and frontals, communion rail and pews (all made of pine) and the christening font, all of which are origianl to the building. Some of the older vessels and artifacts are displayed in covered glass cases at the back of the church. The windows are all original leaded glass with a stained glass window above the alter depicting the Cruxifiction. This window was installed in 1880 as a memorial to Rebecca Bartlett. Plaques honouring men who made the supreme sacrifice in war can be seen above their family pews.

St. George’s Anglican Church has been purchased by The St. George’s Heritage Committee Inc. The building, all of its contents and the surrounding land (except for cemeteries) was secured for $110,000 CDN. The building will be used for concerts, plays, marriages etc and opened and preserved as an historic building. Except for repairs and improvements (e.g. removing the vinyl siding) the building itself will not be altered thus maintaining its historic value and appeal. The original bell tower, which was destroyed during a storm around 1940, is planned on being reconstructed.

The purchase of the church by the committee will hopefully ensure that this beautiful building will remain one of the main landmarks of Brigus for many, many years to come. Its opening to the public will give many people the chance to view its wonderful interior which may have been lost forever.

St. George’s Heritage Committee Inc. did a tremendous amount of work and the people of the town of Brigus owe them many thanks.

Stay with us when visiting Brigus.

Our plan was simple: pick a place with good colours and architecture that had a beach, some good views and relatively little traffic. An added bonus would be a location best suited to exploring on foot, but without gobs of residual snow.

Brigus was perfect. To boot, the weather was actually better than it was supposed to be and we had stellar light, incredible blue skies and warming sun. Here are some of the fruits of our trip. Enjoy!!

We started out by appeasing the small demon with a beach. The water was brilliant and the surf lively enough to be interesting. You can see Landfall Cottage, once the home of artist Rockwell Kent, in the background. It blends in pretty thoroughly!

We then grabbed a quick lunch (wonder of wonders there was a Greco sub place between Brigus and Cupids) and went back for more wandering and shoot. Found St. Patrick’s Church and had great fun with the statues there. The white on blue was stunning, both in nature and in statuary!

A statuary in front of St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church in Brigus, Newfoundland, Canada. Adjacent is a convent formed of a group of nuns from Ireland. The Mission is aptly named “our Lady of Snow”, in Mercy Convent.

We then had popsicles (at the insistence of the commander-in-chief. She prefers orange, by the way) and decided to see if the road to Rockwell Kent’s cottage, Landfall, was passable. It was and was well worth the walk!

This is Big Head:

This is Kent Cottage or “Landfall”.

This was as close as we thought appropriate, given that the property is private and it is, after all, someone’s house. A summer house, to be sure, but were it mine, I would appreciate people keeping their distance.

A bit of historical info: The Landfall Cottage was construction around 1786 for the Pomeroy family. It is built on the Battery, named after a gun placement site during King George’s War from 1740-1748. They also call it Freshwater as it was a main source of water for sealing fleets on their way to the ice floes. The original building was a small Georgian-style structure with a chimney made out of brick-ballast from ships sailing from England.

Wandering back though the town, we saw dozens of fascinating houses. This one in particular caught my eye, both for the contrast of  blue and for it’s fabulous view

The House with The View

These upper doors were often equipped with rollers to facilitate hauling supplies in. Very few remain in Newfoundland, as many of the houses have fallen down or been substantially modified (most people don’t want second-floor doors with no stairs, for some reason).

Then we headed home, as the day clouded over and Katherine, who had been the soul of patience (popsicle bribes work wonders) and industry (we now have a trunk full of beach rocks) had just about had enough.

There’s a trail that runs over the barren hills, out to the lighthouse and round to the next tiny community. We’re saving that for when the snow is finally gone. With any luck, that’ll be in a few weeks!

Brigus is located in Conception Bay North and is situated on Route 60 approximately eighty kilometers west of Newfoundland’s capital St. John’s. Brigus can be easily accessed from the Trans Canada Highway by accessing Exit 31 to Route 75.When you arrive at this point turn off Route 75 at what is called Roaches Line and continue to Route 60. At the junction of Route 70 and Route 60 turn right which will take you right to Brigus. There is another Route that can be taken which is slower but more scenic and that is Route 60 west.

If you visit Brigus at the right time of the year you can partake in the fun and games of the Blueberry Festival. This annual festival occurs in August . Partake in the festival by attending the local craft sites, the contest that take place and the Miss Blueberry Pageant. You will be introduced to many different types of foods which include Blueberries along with fireworks during the three days of festivities.

Take a walk through Brigus’s history and visit Hawthorne Cottage National Historic Site. This was the home of the famous Captain Bob Bartlett and takes its visitors back to the 1800’s. Follow the family’s life though the years and their contributions to the community as well as to exploring the Arctic.

The next stop into history would be the St. George’s Church which was chosen as a cultural venue for public entertainment. This has exploded into some of the best of Newfoundland talent that can be enjoyed by locals and visitors alike.

Another fascinating building is Ye Old Stone Barn Museum. This museum opens in June and remains open until October. It has been restored into a unique showcase of the history of Brigus. You will be privy to artifacts that span 200 years.

The Tunnel is an engineering feat that took four months to accomplish in 1860. It was a work of necessity that required a tunnel dug to make easier access to Abram Bartlett’s wharf. John Hoskins was a miner that took on this challenge and made it a reality. Today it is a very scenic and easily walked access to the beach.

Wilcox Garden is another place to visit. Sit and relax in what is known as the Place of a Thousand Blooms. Wilcox Garden is found in the heart of Brigus and is spectacular in its display of flowers. It is the proper place to unwind from a day of sightseeing.

Brigus also offers whaling tours and walking tours. It is spectacular in its beauty and awaits your arrival. Get ready to lay back and really enjoy your vacation. There is no hustle and bustle here. There is beautiful scenery all round you and there for your enjoyment when you visit Brigus Newfoundland and Labrador.

Brigus - Sailing Ships

Come visit Brigus and stay with us … you’ll feel right at home !

Brigus Harbour

Brigus has a history that spans back to 1612. This is when John Guy sold half of the harbor to the Spracklin family. During this time there was a mixture of people that lived in Brigus. Most of them came over from England but there were also others from Ireland and Wales. The name of Brigus was originally used in England after a town that was at that time called “Brick house”. This is just assumed and there is no definite proof that this was definite. Nestled between hills overlooking the sea it is a stunning sight to behold. This town has gone to extremes to keep its history over the year and this can be seen today in its charming sight, sparkling streams and old style houses.

Hawthorn Cottage

Captain Robert A. Bartlett helped to immortalize this town. He was a master mariner who traveled to the Arctic as well as Africa and was noted for saving the life of his crew when his ship got caught in the Arctic ice and sank. His former home Hawthorn Cottage still stands in Brigus today and is a National Historic Site.

Stone Barn Museum

Brigus also boasts the Stone Barn Museum that was built in the 1800’s but deteriorated over the years until it was restored and used as a museum to give people a look into the past of this historic town.

The Tunnel

The Tunnel is another place that is a must see on your visit. Years ago in 1860 Captain Abraham Bartlett had a problem of getting his fish from the water when he brought his catch home. There was a mountain of rock that he and his crew had to bring his fish up over in order to land it. He commissioned Cornish Miner John Hoskins to remove the rock. John didn’t remove it he dug a tunnel through it. This project took John four months to accomplish but it certainly fixed Mr. Bartlett’s problem. Today that tunnel still stands exactly where it was dug out. You can see the spikes that ere used to make holes in the tunnel at the museum.

Town hall in Brigus

The Town Hall will take you back in time with this house that was built years ago and is kept in immaculate condition.

The River

Yes, a river runs through it. This channel not only offers added beauty to Brigus but is the home of many ducks that are always hanging out there. This channel runs right to the ocean at the end of Brigus. It is a wonderful place for a quiet stroll.

Captain Bob

Captain Bob Bartlett is not forgotten in this town as this memorial testifies. He commanded the Roosevelt during the Peary’s arctic expedition of 1905 1nd 1906. These sails represent the sail boat of which he was captain.

Churches

You will find many churches in Brigus that date back to another era. These are quite captivating.

Brigus is one place that you must see if visiting Newfoundland. You will find lots of bed and breakfast here to make your visit that more pleasant. If you’re a history buff Brigus can satisfy all your needs as the whole town is a step back into the past.

The first transatlantic telegraph cable between Valentia Island, in western Ireland and Heart’s Content, in eastern Newfoundland was completed in 1866. The first transatlantic radio message was received by Marconi at Cabot Tower  in St. John’s. The first non-stop transatlantic flight was made from St. John’s in 1919 by Alcock and Brown.

The oldest known European settlement anywhere in the Americas outside Greenland is located at L’Anse aux Meadows, Newfoundland. It was founded circa AD 1000 by Leif Ericson’s Vikings. Remnants and artifacts of the occupation can still be seen at L’Anse aux Meadows, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The island was inhabited by the Beothuks and later the Mi’kmaq.

John Cabot became the first European since the Vikings to discover Newfoundland (but see João Vaz Corte-Real), landing at Bonavista on June 24, 1497. On August 5, 1583, Sir Humphrey Gilbert formally claimed Newfoundland as England’s first overseas colony under Royal Prerogative of Queen Elizabeth I.

From 1610 to 1728, Proprietary Governors were appointed to establish colonial settlements on the island. John Guy was governor of the first settlement at Cuper’s Cove. Other settlements were Bristol’s Hope, Renews, New Cambriol, South Falkland .

Basque fishermen, who had been fishing cod shoals off Newfoundland’s coasts since the beginning of the fifteenth century, founded  Plaisance  (today Placentia), a haven which started to be also used by French fishermen. In 1655, France appointed a governor in Plaisance, thus starting a formal French colonization period of Newfoundland. The rest of the island was nearly conquered by New France explorer Pierre Le Moyne d’Iberville in the 1690s.

The French colonization period lasted until the Treaty of Utrecht, in 1713, which ended the War of the Spanish Succession. According to the terms of the treaty, France ceded its claims to Newfoundland to the British (as well as its claims to the shores of Hudson’s Bay). In addition, the French possessions in Acadia were yielded to England. Afterwards, under the supervision of the last French governor, the French population of Plaisance moved to Île Royale (now Cape Breton Island), part of Acadia which remained then under French control.

International, national and local performers put on a great show. Juggling, acrobatics, magic, and comedy.

A show every 30 minutes with over 30 shows per day.

The short street is populated mainly by bars and pubs and is open only to pedestrians in the evenings and during most of the business day, only being open to traffic from 8:00am until noon, to allow bars to restock their goods.

George Street has the most bars and pubs per square foot of any street in North America, and is known to have bars that are open later than most others throughout Canada. The street does not usually become crowded with people until later at night, around midnight, and will remain busy until early in the morning, possibly as early as 6 am, despite the absence of the sale of alcohol.

George Street Festival – like none other !

George Street Festival

In its 26th year, the George Street Festival has grown to become an iconic event in the St. John’s calendar; a must attend attraction for tourists and residents alike. The “Biggest Little Street in North America” parties for six straight days, featuring both big name bands, tribute acts and local favorites alike. GSA’s commitment to big name bands and quality entertainment continues with the creation of a Country night theme.

The largest celebration six-night George Street Festival which occurs in early August and typically concludes on the Tuesday night before the Royal St. John’s Regatta, which is set for the first Wednesday in August. The festival is rumoured to be the largest of its kind in North America with over 120,000 people making their way through the streets during the six-day period.

Located in the center of historic downtown St. John’s, George Street is one of the premier entertainment districts in North America. Amongst the 22 pubs, clubs and bars on George Street, you will find all types of music to listen to – irish, blues, country, dance, rock and roll and traditional music will keep the party going until 3 am on weekends. No matter what you are in the mood for, you are sure to find entertainment that strikes your fancy!

If you don’t believe us, just ask WestJet whose passengers voted us the #1 entertainment district in Canada in back to back years.In addition to being a year round destination for both residents and tourists alike, George Street is home to a number of popular events, including the world-famous George Street Festival, Canada’s BIG Birthday Bash celebrations and the annual Mardis Gras celebrations.

The street is the venue for an annual Mardi Gras celebration in October, even though most celebrations of this type occur in February in other parts of the world.

Dress up, lose your inhibitions and party with your friends, colleagues and family amongst some great costumes seen anywhere during Halloween. Mardis Gras on George Street is a two day happening…

Whether you’re looking for a fun night out, a tasty meal, a unique venue for a conference, or a place to relax after a hard day’s work, George Street is the place for you.

Welcome to the Royal St. John’s Regatta, scheduled for the frist Wednesday in August each year at at Quidi Vidi Lake in St. John’s, Newfoundland & Labrador.

The Royal St. John’s Regatta is North America’s oldest annual sporting event with documented proof of 1816 boat races. There is credible contention that St. John’s regattas were held even earlier than 1816, likely in the 1700s.

Held on Quidi Vidi Lake in St. John’s, Newfoundland, the Regatta is scheduled for the first Wednesday of August. If weather isn’t suitable, and wind conditions are very important, the event is postponed until the next suitable day. Since Regatta Day is a civic holiday in St. John’s, this means that the weather actually determines whether or not workers have the day off – a matter sometimes complicated by late-night partying associated with the end of the George Street Festival the night before.

Crews row six-member, coxswained, fixed-seat racing shells that are as identical as possible and are the property of the Royal St. John’s Regatta Committee. Men’s crews row a 2.450 km course , women’s crews row a 1.225 km course , and all crews are required to turn buoys and return to the start-finish line.

A growing number of people, local and foreign, visit Quidi Vidi Lake each year for the event, averaging around 50,000 in recent years. Aside from the rowing competitions, the Royal St. John’s Regatta is well-known for its lakeside entertainment. The Regatta host hundreds of booths operated by individuals and organizations, ranging from various games of chance to food and drink.

Come and spin the wheel and win a prize. Meet your friends and spend a day on the shores of Quidi Vidi.