July 27, 2024 – Avalon Peninsula, Eastern Newfoundland Coast

 

Saturday, we moved to the southeastern part of the Avalon Peninsula and stayed at Argentia Sunset Park in Placentia.

After getting set up, we drove a short distance to Castle Hill National Historic Site.  By 1600, France and England dominated the European migratory fisheries to Newfoundland.  Small-scale English settlement began in 1610, and in 1662 France established the royal colony of Plaisance to secure its fisheries and check English expansion along the south coast.

For the first three decades the defenses received little attention.  War between England and France led to the construction of newer and better defenses.  In 1692, defense works on Castle Hill were instrumental in repelling an English naval attack.  Between 1696 and 1709, forces from Plaisance conducted destructive raids on English fishing settlements.  By the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713, France recognized British sovereignty over Newfoundland.  After Britain took possession of Plaisance it was renamed Placentia.  After 1763, Placentia’s status declined in favor of St. John’s and in 1811 the few remaining troops in the Placentia garrison were removed to St. John’s.

From Castle Hill we had a great view of the Sir Ambrose Shea Lift Bridge which was opened in 1961.  Prior to the bridge the only way to travel across the gut was by boat or ferry or sometimes the gut froze over in winter forming a natural bridge.

        At Castle Hill Visitor’s Center Tacky posed as a soldier.

We drove into Placentia and walked on the Great Beach Boardwalk which stretches for 1.4 km and gave us a beautiful view of Placentia Bay.

We ended our afternoon with drinks on the patio of the Dockside Pub.

The view of the docks from the patio was very nice.

This was another good day touring Newfoundland.