Quidi Vidi Village

Quidi Vidi Village (pronounced “kiddy vidi”) is a quaint fishing village located in St. John’s near Quidi Vidi Lake. This town is known for its cute coastal homes, several small businesses including a brewery and Artisan Studios, and the Quidi Vidi Battery Provincial Historic Site. Book a tour now to see more!

What to Know

Quidi Vidi is a neighborhood nestled next to Quidi Vidi Lake in St. John's, Newfoundland, and Labrador, Canada. This village is known for its varying pronunciations, with "Kiddy Vidi" being the most common one. The harbor in Quidi Vidi is referred to as "The Gut". Quidi Vidi also houses the famous Quidi Vidi Battery Provincial Historic Site, gorgeous coastal homes, and many independent businesses. Its population is 783 with a 1.1:1 Male/Female ratio.

How to Get There 

If you're wondering how far is Quidi Vidi from St. John's, the answer is - not far. You can reach this quaint village in just 10 minutes via Empire Ave. But the best way to get there is by booking a St. John's Tour which will take you to several other points of interest as well, such as the famous Cape Spear National Historic Site. That way, you won't have to worry about Quidi Vidi village directions.

Best Time to Visit

You can take a quaint stroll around this town anytime you want but its beautiful sights can be best enjoyed in pleasant weather!

Highlights

When you've got the hang of Quidi Vidi's pronunciation, do take a stroll in this quaint fishing village. If you're a history buff, visit the famous Quidi Vidi Battery Provincial Historic Site nestled in this village. Dine at the fancy Mallard Cottage or eat street food from its food trucks on the waterfront! Visit the Artisan Studios for gorgeous works of art from stained glass and pottery to vibrant textiles and art prints. Don't forget to buy yourself a souvenir from this place or the various shops on Water Street! If you want a sip of ciders or craft beer, do visit the Quidi Vidi Brewing Company!

History

From the early 1600s, fishermen from South Devon towns such as Dartmouth, Teignmouth, Totnes, Dawlish, and Torbay would arrive each spring in Quidi Vidi to set up fishing rooms. Each fall, they had to return to their hometowns but a few would stay behind to take care of the rooms and gather materials for construction and fuel. As the years went on, more and more fishermen chose to stay permanently, building houses, getting married, and starting families. However this village remained famous for its cod fishery since even as late as 1835, there were still migratory fishermen from southwest England and southeast Ireland working in this department at Quidi Vidi.

This site gained its historic status due to some batteries that were constructed here. In 1762 the French built the Quidi Vidi Battery, which became an integral element of the system of batteries fortifying St John's after the French left. In 1967, this site underwent some reconstruction and it was appointed as the Province's premier Historic Site in 1974. It hasn't been open to the public to visit since 2011 due to being severely dilapidated. Another battery, the Quidi Pass Battery, constructed by the British during the Napoleonic Wars, can be found on a hill above the village and lake. A sign marks its location.

Quidi Vidi is also home to Mallard Cottage, a National Historic Site of Canada built between 1820 and 1840. This cottage served as the residence of the Mallard family, a fishing family, until the 1980s. It became an antique store in 1985, and in 2011 it was bought and repaired according to guidelines set out by the Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador. The restoration work was recognized with a Southcott Award in 2013, after which it was established as a restaurant.

In 1834, Christ Church in Quidi Vidi was built by a collaboration of Anglicans, Methodists, and Congregationalists, but cooperation between the churches fell apart which led to the construction of a new complex by the Anglican. This complex was later on sanctified by Bishop Spencer in 1842. This site served various purposes such as an antique shop, a town hall, and a rehearsal room for a theater class, among others, before turning into a private residence. Additionally, Quidi Vidi was involved in the construction of the Pepperrell Air Force Base during World War II, which began in 1940 near Quidi Vidi Lake.

If you're wondering "what does Quidi Vidi mean" and "where did this site get its name", we don't have an exact answer. People have claimed this name to be of Latin or French origins but no one exactly knows.