Hello and welcome to my blog! I’m glad you’re here. It’s week 37 in 2022 and I’m hosting Weekend Coffee Share linkup #87. Come on in for a coffee or tea, and let’s catch up.
The beautiful town of Brigus is situated on the Avalon Peninsula, about 70km (43 miles) from the capital city of St. John’s, in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Brigus was founded in 1612. The name “Brigus” is derived from “Brickhouse”, an old English town.
While in Brigus, I completed a self-guided tour of Hawthorne Cottage, a National Historic Site of Canada, then took a leisurely hike around charming streets sloping up into green cliffs to explore the town. Brigus’ well-kept old-style architecture, rustic stone walls, lush green gardens, and winding narrow lanes are reflective of its English, Irish, and Welsh heritage.
Here are my pictures of historic structures and scenery in Brigus. Except for the first two pictures, I grouped the rest of my pictures into three galleries. Click on any image in the gallery to see its bigger version and caption.
Hawthorne Cottage National Historic Site
Built in 1830, this charming cottage was the former home of Arctic explorer Captain Bob Bartlett, who took American explorer Robert Peary to the North Pole in 1909. I highly recommend the tour of the cottage. Many artifacts commemorate the family and Bartlett’s achievements as the greatest ice navigator of the 20th century.
During the more than 50 years of his seafaring life, Captain Robert (Bob) Abram Bartlett skippered some of the most famous, dangerous, and controversial exploratory expeditions to the Arctic. He travelled further north than almost any other living person, was shipwrecked at least 12 times, survived for months in the inhospitable Arctic after sea ice crushed his ship, and journeyed hundreds of miles by dogsled to reach civilization. Despite these hardships, Bartlett returned to the Arctic whenever circumstance allowed and almost always came back with photographs, film reels, and scientific data that greatly contributed to the world’s understanding of the north.
Newfoundland and Labrador Heritage web site
Historic structures built in the 1800s
From top left, clockwise: St. George’s Heritage church built in 1876; Stonewalls line the river; The Tunnel bored through solid rock on Brigus waterfront in 1860; Pinkston’s Forge built in 1889; The Leamon Museum: Ye Olde Stone Barn built in the 1820s.
Brigus Bay and Bishop’s Beach
From top left, clockwise: Steel Sails Monument erected at Bishop’s Beach in 1972 commemorating Captain Bartlett; Directional signs in Brigus; Blue bench at Payne Family Park; View of Brigus Bay; Stone table and bench at Bishop’s Beach.
Brigus Homes and Town Hall
From top left, clockwise: Brigus Town Hall in a beautiful blue; Brigus winding lanes; Birdhouses on a post; Side door at the Baldwin’s; Door with green trimmings; A house in Brigus.
My visit to Hawthorne Cottage and Brigus was informative and enjoyable. I hope to take you on an idyllic island getaway next week.
Shared with #ThursdayDoors, PPAC#64, Jo’s Monday Walk.
Copyright © 2023 natalietheexplorer.home.blog – All rights reserved.
Natalie the Explorer 
Hi Natalie – quite a diverse little spot with a range of home styles and a lot of history (especially having a famous explorer there for so many years). I also loved the birdhouses – they always make me smile.
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Hi Leanne, The birdhouses always make me smile, too. Brigus is a nice town to explore. In the summer they have a Blueberry festival.
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Hawthorne Cottage is gorgeous. Of course so is Brigus Town Hall. I like how well-preserved these buildings appear to be. And the colors… Thanks for sharing your photos here. Happy Friday!
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Ally, I’m glad you like the buildings and colours in Brigus. It’s another small town in Newfoundland where residents seem to take pride in maintaining their historic buildings and overall appearance of the town. I really enjoyed my walk there. Happy Friday!
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St. George’s is so lovely, and the view you captured through the red gate is stunning!
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Thank you for your lovely compliment. I took several pictures of St. George’s. I’m glad you liked the one I chose to post on my blog.
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Those houses are gorgeous! I love seeing old houses. New houses don’t have nothing on those old, beautiful ones. Thank you for sharing Natalie! I hope you’ll have a wonderful weekend. Thank you for the coffee!
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You’re welcome, Maria. I’m glad you love seeing old houses. Some of them have beautiful designs and details. Have a great weekend!
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Thank you!
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Love the stone barn! And the winding streets and the ocean view and… as others have said, what a lovely place. I always look forward to your posts because you visit such beautiful places, and I always learn something.
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Thank you, Janet, for your lovely comment. I’m happy to hear you always look forward to my posts. I’ll try to keep my blog interesting. Brigus is a lovely town to wander, learn about its history, and take pictures 🙂
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What a lovely looking place – and so nice for me to start Saturday with your cheerful post.
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Thank you, Barbara. I’m happy to start your Saturday with my cheerful blog.
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Hawthorne cottage is so pretty! I love all that laced-like wood work decorating the cottage.
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I also love the laced-like details and the wrap-around veranda at Hawthorne Cottage.
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Ah – another place to stay for a few days, then write and walk and then write some more before walking again. What a dream this would be.
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Yes, Brigus would be a lovely place for writers.
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That building with the red gate is amazing! Like a movie setting.
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St. George’s Heritage church and its red gate look like a postcard IRL.
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Absolutely stunning! You have made me want to return to Newfound and explore further!
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Hi Donna, I also want to return to Newfoundland and explore further.
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Hi NatalieI really enjoyed the history in this post. I’m pleased you also included info about Captain Bartlett as I hadn’t heard of him. The cottage is beautiful, as is The Town Hall in that gorgeous blue. This is an area that I’d love to visit.
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Hi Jennifer, I’m glad you enjoyed the history. When I toured Hawthorne Cottage and learned about Captain Bartlett’s achievements, I kept thinking he must love the Arctic a lot. I also love the gorgeous blue Town Hall.
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Hi Natalie, I love the blue Town Hall, and all the cute cottages, what a great spot!!
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Hi Debbie, It was fun to wander and explore in Brigus.
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Cool town. I enjoy the older buildings. The tunnel looks pretty small – do people have to duck to walk through?
Hope you are having a great weekend and have a wonderful week ahead!
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Trent, The tunnel may look small in my photo. IRL a few people can walk through it at the same time without ducking or bumping into each other. The end of the tunnel leads to a lookout and Brigus Bay. Have a great weekend!
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Wonderful doors and photos, Natalie. I love that wrap-around porch on Hawthorne Cottage. I wish we had room to build one.
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Thank you, Dan. I also love the wrap-around veranda at Hawthorne Cottage.
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Thank you for the pingback. I hope you make time to comment on my blog and and at least one other participant’s blog in the linkup.
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Thank you for your pingback and contribution to Weekend Coffee Share.
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Thank you for your pingback and contribution to Weekend Coffee Share.
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So many beautiful buildings, Natalie!
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Jo, Brigus is a nice town to walk around and explore. The residents seem to take pride in keeping their homes and historic buildings tidy and in good condition.
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The story about Bob Bartlett is pretty amazing. How the town got the name Brigus is interesting, and Hawthorne Cottage looks great at almost 200 years old.
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Agreed. I greatly enjoyed touring Hawthorn Cottage, learning about Captain Bartlett, and exploring Brigus.
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I really like the exterior of the Hawthorne Cottage. It is so cute.
I am laughing at myself because I can’t seem to get the coffee share and week number correct. I seem to get one or other of the numbers wrong regularly, this week I wrote 33 instead or 37. Anyway, thanks for hosting Natalie.
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I have a calendar with the week numbers to help me keep track of the week in 2022 and the Weekend Coffee Share linkups in InLinkz. Thank you for joining in this weekend.
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That’s a great idea. Nice and organized.
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Thank you for your pingback and contribution to Weekend Coffee Share.
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I laughed when I saw Writing Sparkle’s comment. My WQW posts are a countdown of weeks, too, but somewhere I got off, and I think I’m on 35 and you are on 37. Oh well! This is another beautiful post, Natalie. The birdhouses are adorable. Your selections of public art are lovely but even the houses are public art, aren’t they? The bright blue town hall – I’ve never seen a government building look so brilliant. Each house had its own charm but the Hawthorne Cottage was spectacular. Thanks for linking. I’m still hoping to get a coffee post out, but I may have to link another one. I’ll see how I do tonight and tomorrow answering comments.
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Marsha, Thank you for your compliment for my post. I think the blue on the Town Hall is such a beautiful and clever choice. No worries about a coffee post. I hope you’re enjoying your trip. Have a great week!
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Thanks, I’m getting packed, and I leave on Tuesday to spend the night in Scottsdale before leaving for Portland on Wednesday. I am very excited. 🙂 Thanks for understanding.
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I’m excited for you 🙂
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Thanks, me too!!!!’
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Natalie, this is like a walk back in time. Thank you for sharing.
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Suzanne, Thank you for stopping by. Brigus was founded in 1612 so you’re right that this is like a walk back in time.
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Hawthorne Cottage is so beautiful and what an amazing story. Thanks for sharing both with us.
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Patrick, Thank you for stopping by. I’m glad you like Hawthorne Cottage and the story.
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Thank you for your pingback and contribution to Weekend coffee share.
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Thank you for your pingback and contribution to Weekend coffee share.
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Hi Natalie, Brigus is a pretty and quaint looking town and Hawthorn Cottage and its history is quite fascinating. Captain Bob Bartlett sounds like a brave and very adventurous man. After being shipwrecked even just once and stuck in harsh freezing arctic conditions I doubt very much I’d have the bravery to go back again. He had a passion and as you said it contributed to the world’s understanding of the north. Great little bit of history to learn of. Have a great week Natalie! xo
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Hi Min, When I toured Hawthorne Cottage and read Captain Bartlett’s Arctic expeditions, I thought he must truly loved the Arctic to keep returning. In my opinion, some people are born explorers and he’s one of them. Thank you for stopping by. Have a wonderful week!
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They’re all beautiful… glad they are well preserved!
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Thank you, Teresa. I enjoyed touring Hawthorne Cottage and exploring Brigus.
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Aaahhh I love all those buildings. So beautiful! What I love about these link parties is that I get to explore vicariously through others, places I may never visit on my own.
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Kirstin, Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I also enjoy exploring places via other blogs. Have a great week!
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This looks like a must see place. Love the Artic exp lore and history. Thanks for the tour.
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Antoinette, Thank you for stopping by. I hope all’s well with you and your family.
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Such a charming town – the architecture is so lovely and well-preserved! It is very obvious that these towns you visited are well looked after, and the townsfolk are very proud of where they live!
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Thanks for letting us see some of Hawthorne Cottage and Brigus in this post!
And hooe you have a nice week ahead
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Yvette, My pleasure. Thank you for joining me virtually. Have a great week!
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☀️😊🍂🍂🍂
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