The Colony of Avalon is a 17th century English colony that was "forgotten" for centuries and is currently being excavated. Catch the excitement as you enjoy a tour of the excavations and witness the unfolding of history as archaeologists unearth the long lost town. Walk through a restored herb garden, traverse on ancient cobblestone streets, visit our Interpretation Centre, or sit by a warm fire and have a chat with some of our costumed interpreters. Connect to a piece of history at the Colony of Avalon in Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador.
Ferryland is located on the east coast of Newfoundland's Avalon Peninsula and is probably as close to Europe as any place in the New World. Today it's a fishing community of about 750 people, but beginning in the early 1500s it was visited seasonally at least by Beothuk Indians and fishermen from Portugal, Spain, France, the Basque Country, Normandy, Brittany and West Country England.
In 1621, the first permanent settlement was established by George Calvert, later the first Lord Baltimore. Avalon, as he chose to call it, was Baltimore's first New World venture and the beginning of religious toleration in British North America. In 1637, Charles I granted the entire Island of Newfoundland to a syndicate headed by Sir David Kirke. Kirke dispossessed Baltimore's representative from the "mansion house" and established his own residence there.
Kirke died in jail in England in 1654 but his wife, Lady Sara Kirke, continued to manage the most successful fishing business on the English Shore. She survived a raid by Dutch forces in 1673, but died before the French burned Ferryland in 1696. For the past decade archaeologists have been slowly revealing Calvert's Avalon, David Kirke's Pool Plantation, and traces of the native people and migratory fishermen who came before them.
To date, over a million artifacts have been discovered, including Portuguese ceramics, gold rings, a sea-flushed privy, a stone-walled well and much more. Also, stop and discover the culinary wonders of our local restaurants and take advantage of the area's many guesthouses, boat tours and gift shops.
Site Information
Dates of Operation: May 12 – October 3, Seven days a week
Hours of Operation: May 12 – June 30 - 10:00 – 5:00; July 1 – Aug 31 - 9:00 – 7:00; Sept 1 – Oct 3 - 10:00 – 5:00
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