Loveridge House
(Twillingate)

Although no one knows the exact date of its construction, Loveridge House is still considered one of the oldest private residences in the community of Twillingate.

Loveridge House, Twillingate, NL, before Restoration

The house is a rare example of a 19th century house type. Its style and design is unique both in the community of Twillingate and in the province.

© 1998 Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador

It is believed that the house was built by Mr. Peter Samways, the first recorded owner of the house, sometime between 1850 and 1880. Historic records gathered to date indicate that in the 19th century Mr. Peter Samways was an influential community member. A native of Poole, England he was very active in the Methodist church and local educational institutions. Samways sold the house to the Patten family in 1907. In 1915, Henry T. Ford bought the house. He ran a photography studio from the location and also operated an inn there. Generations of Ford's worked for the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) in the north and Henry also followed the call. He resold the house to Arthur Ashbourne, a prominent local merchant, in 1921. In 1938 Malcolm G. Loveridge bought the dwelling.

Loveridge House, Twillingate, NL, after Restoration

An unusual feature of the house is that the main entrance is located in a side porch built onto the left gable end.

© 2004 Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador

The Loveridges were well known within Twillingate. Malcolm was a member of the Twillingate Memorial Hospital board of directors and he and his wife Agnes participated in other organizations devoted to the well-being and development of the area.

The style and design of the Loveridge House are unique both in the community of Twillingate and in the province. While it features a symmetrical three bay facade, rather than having the main entrance located on this facade, it is located in a side porch built onto the left gable end. A second entrance is located in the back porch, or back linhay, a common architectural feature of contemporaneous homes in Newfoundland and Labrador. Of the structure's more distinctive features are the five peaked dormer windows, an uncommon design in older homes of Twillingate but an accepted feature of similar homes of the same time period in other parts of the province. Three of the dormers are on the front facade while the other two are on the rear of the house.

The Loveridge House was recognised as a Registered Heritage Structure in May 1993.