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Avalon Defenses
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Colony of Avalon, 1621 – 1638.
Reproduced by permission of the Colony of Avalon Foundation,
Ferryland, Newfoundland, © 2001.
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One of the colonists' chief concerns was defense. Captain Wynne, the
first governor, reported that he had "thrown up a face of defense to the
waterside ward, with earth digged from the cellar and kitchen...". Part
of the defenses included this ditch, about 20 feet wide and 4 feet deep.
Shown here is a profile through the ditch.
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Defensive Ditch.
Reproduced by permission of the Colony of Avalon Foundation,
Ferryland, Newfoundland, © 2001.
 (46 kb)
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The image below on the left shows the defensive ditch looking south.
The stone scarp of the rampart can be seen at the right
of the image; the counterscarp, or outer face of the ditch is at the left.
The image below on the right is the restored stone facing of the
counterscarp. This image is looking north.
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Defensive Ditch Showing Scarp (left) and Reconstructed Counterscarp (right).
Both images reproduced by permission of the
Colony of Avalon Foundation, Ferryland, Newfoundland, © 2001.
of scarp (51 kb).
of counterscarp (46 kb).
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The ditch can be dated to the early years of Avalon by a number of
artifacts found in the very lowest layers. Among these artifacts are an
undecorated German stoneware jug made sometime between 1575 and 1625 (left),
and a large fragment of a gravestone, possibly that of Nicholas Hoskins
who was at Avalon during the winter of 1622/23.
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German Stoneware Jug (left) and a Gravestone Fragment.
Both images reproduced by permission of the
Colony of Avalon Foundation, Ferryland, Newfoundland, © 2001.
of jug (73 kb).
of gravestone (76 kb).
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Also found in the lowest layers of the ditch were this gold-plated
brass boot spur and an Irish silver shilling from the reign of James I.
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Brass Boot Spur and an Irish Silver Shilling.
Included is an artist's sketch of the coin.
Reproduced by permission of the Colony of Avalon Foundation,
Ferryland, Newfoundland, © 2001.
(48 kb)
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The following image shows the sills remaining from a bridge that crossed
the defensive ditch and led from the village to the Ferryland Downs to
the east. To the right can be seen the location of the east gate to Avalon
and the east end of the cobble pavement that seems to run through the
entire settlement.
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Remains of Bridge Sills.
Reproduced by permission of the Colony of Avalon Foundation,
Ferryland, Newfoundland, © 2001.
(56 kb)
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The cobblestone street leads westward from the east gate for some 400
feet. Although it seems to make a number of turns and bends along its
course, the west is the same width - 13 feet - as the eastern end.
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Cobblestone Street Looking East.
Reproduced by permission of the Colony of Avalon Foundation,
Ferryland, Newfoundland, © 2001.
(80 kb)
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© 2002, Colony of Avalon Foundation
Next Stop: Avalon Structures
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