Winterton, a quaint town nestled in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador, is a place where history and nature intertwine. Originally known as Sille Cove or Scilly Cove, the town was renamed Winterton in 1912, in honor of Sir James Spearman Winter, a former Prime Minister of Newfoundland.
Winterton is beautifully situated on Winterton Cove off Trinity Bay, on the western side of the Avalon Peninsula on Newfoundland's east coast. The town's bedrock is a testament to its ancient origins, composed of Precambrian-era gray and black shale. The soil, a very stony, acidic loam with classic podzol profile development, is mapped as Turk's Cove series. Peat is common in poorly drained areas, adding to the town's unique geographical features.
The first record of settlement in Winterton dates back to 1675, as noted in Captain John Berry's Report to the British Admiralty. At that time, there were three fishing enterprises, led by Captains Hopkins, Wicksell, and Peyton. These fishing crews, hailing from the West Country of England, would arrive in the early spring each year to fish in the nearby waters. The fish would then be salted and dried in structures along the shore, known as stages and flakes, before being shipped to England in the fall.
The next significant record of settlement in Winterton is found in the 1697 journal of Jean Baudoin, a priest who accompanied d'Iberville on his expedition around the coast of Newfoundland. Baudoin reported the presence of four houses, fishing structures, and livestock in the town, all of which were destroyed before the soldiers departed.
The Winterton Boat Building and Community Museum, now known as the Wooden Boat Museum of Newfoundland and Labrador, has preserved the ancient techniques and tools used in boat construction. The museum showcases newly constructed boats, as well as the tools and axe hewn timbers used in their creation.
In 2022, Grammy-winning Canadian music producer, Greg Wells, purchased St. Luke's Anglican Church in Winterton. The church remains open to the public for religious purposes, and Wells plans to use the property to showcase local talent and raise funds for the community.
According to the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Winterton had a population of 436 living in 204 of its 287 total private dwellings. This represented a change of -3.1% from its 2016 population of 450. With a land area of 10.61 km2 (4.10 sq mi), the town had a population density of 41.1/km2 (106.4/sq mi) in 2021.
Visitors to Winterton can enjoy a variety of attractions, including the Sugarloaf Trail and the Trinity South D'Iberville Trail. St. Luke's Anglican Church, now owned by Canadian music producer Greg Wells, is another must-see site.
