Description of Historic Place

The Lighttower at King’s Cove Head is located on a headland jutting into the Bonavista Bay. The tower is white, cast-iron with no decoration. The structure’s profile is emphasized by a lantern and cap with a prominent weathervane. The designation is confined to the footprint of the building.

Heritage Value

The Lighttower at King’s Cove Head is a Recognized Federal Heritage Building because of its historical associations, and its architectural and environmental value.

Historical Value
The Lighttower at King’s Cove Head illustrates the theme of navigational aids in Newfoundland when it was a British colony with an economy based entirely on the sea. Its construction also illustrates the theme of growing industrialization around the turn of the 20th century.

Architectural Value
The Lighttower at King’s Cove Head is a very good example of a utilitarian structure of cast-iron construction and very good functional design. It is one of approximately 26 lighthouses of prefabricated iron and steel construction, thought to be the only surviving examples of their type in Canada. Favoured because of their inexpensive cost, ease of erection, low maintenance requirements and long-term durability, these structures reflect the desire to achieve a design that would withstand the rigours of the Newfoundland coast.

Environmental Value
The Lighttower at King’s Cove Head reinforces the character of its maritime setting and is a familiar landmark to mariners in the region.

Sources:
Joan Mattie, Six Newfoundland Lighthouse,: Green point; Heart’s Content; King’s Cove Head; Little Denier Island; North Head; Brigus; Random Head, Newfoundland, Federal Heritage Building Review Office Building Report 89-198, 89-199, 89-200, 89-201, 89-208, 89-211; Lighthouse: King’s Cove Head, Bonavista Bay, Newfoundland, Heritage Character Statement, 89-200.

Character-Defining Elements

The character-defining elements of the Lighttower should be respected.

Its utilitarian design, and cast-iron construction, for example:
-the simple massing of the tower which consists of a smooth tubular form composed of a base, shaft, lantern platform and lantern with a lantern cap and prominent weathervane;
-the cast-iron construction system, comprised of rounded rectangular segments bolted together on the interior face;
-the plain white exterior with no decoration.

The manner in which the Lighttower reinforces the character of its maritime setting and is a familiar landmark, as evidenced by:
-the overall composition and appearance of the lighthouse isolated on a headland jutting into a bay on the exposed Newfoundland coast;
-the high visibility of the tower and its role as a marker to sea going vessels.