Formal Recognition Type

Registered Heritage District

Heritage Value

Tilting was designated a Registered Heritage District by the Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador in 2003 for several reasons.

Tilting is a continuing cultural landscape and is a rare example of an Irish Newfoundland outport in its combination of features. Many aspects of the 19th century layer of settlement are still in existence. The agglomerated settlement form of family neighbourhoods, reflecting earlier Irish settlement patterns, is still present and valued by many members of the community. Tilting illustrates adaptations of Irish settlement patterns both in clusters of family neighbourhoods and in its garden layouts.

Tilting possesses a near complete range of traditional buildings and spaces associated with the inshore fishery having the same interrelationships as in the 19th century. It is also important as a prime example of a Newfoundland settlement involved with the family based inshore fishery. It has one of the best collections of inshore fishery related structures on the Island of Newfoundland and there are gardens, agricultural structures and a variety of traditionally made fences still in use in the community.

Tilting Registered Historic District is a rare surviving example of a once common system of land and community organization particular to Newfoundland, which in its form, extent and endurance continues to speak eloquently to the history and community organization of this particular outpost. Further, a tradition of taking the land has resulted in the creation of a landscape distinguished by a combination of thrown, stacked and piled stone walls. It is a landscape associated with a land use practice that places little value on the formalities of land ownership and requires the cooperative efforts of the community to build and maintain.

Within this district are several provincial Registered Heritage Structures, such as the Dwyer House, the Pearce Foley House, the Martin Green House, and the oldest structure the Lane House, which dates from the mid-19th century. They serve as physical reminders of the types of homes designed by early settlers to the region. Their vernacular designs are further examples of the resourcefulness of Tilting inhabitants and prove the expression of early Irish influence amongst the Island’s people and ways of life.

Source: Tilting Registered Heritage District file, Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador, 1 Springdale Street, P.O. Box 5171, St. John’s, NL, A1C 5V5

Character Defining Elements

All those elements that embody the architectural characteristics of the Registered Heritage District of Tilting, including:
-the near complete range of traditional buildings and spaces associated with the inshore fishery having the same interrelationships as in the 19th century;
-the placement and small scale of the buildings and structures;
-interrelationship of buildings and fences;
-use of traditional materials;
-the traditional uses and construction methods of fishery buildings;
-proximity of buildings to the water’s edge; and
-all fences used for traditional purposes, and made with traditional materials.

All those elements that embody the cultural and natural characteristics of the Registered Heritage District of Tilting, including:
-its continual use as a cultural landscape that is a rare example of an Irish Newfoundland outport in its combination of features; and
-its illustrated adaptations of Irish settlement patterns both in its clusters of family neighbourhoods and in its garden layouts.

Community

Tilting

Municipality

Town of Fogo Island

Construction (circa)

1750 - 1750