Flatrock: Located 20.9 km (13.0 mi) north of St. John's in a deeply indented cove extending approximately 1.6 km (1 mi) south of Red Head, Flatrock (sometime written as Flat Rock) is not the only place in Newfoundland that is described as being "flat" - Flat Bay, Flat Islands, Flat Island Harbour, and Flatwater are a sampling.

A bit of Flatrock's history, according E.R. Seary, cited in the ENL is included below: Flatrock appears on English maps as early as 1630-1640.

It was one of a number of new English place names which appeared on maps of this period as the shore from Cape St. Francis to Cape Race became increasingly the preserve of English fishing ships.

M.F. Howley (n.d.) described the name Flatrock as "one of the very oldest names connected with Newfoundland," based on his translation of the Norse "Helluland" as "Flat Stone or Flat Rock."

Although Howley believed that the Viking landing place was at Torbay he advanced Flatrock as the only place in Newfoundland "which retains this very ancient and historic name [Helluland] and it should on no account be changed....

Some people think that, this name Flat rock is too flat and commonplace, and I should not be surprised to hear of an application being sent in to have it changed to something which may be more euphonious."

Despite the variation in spelling, Flatrock retained its original name which is almost certainly derived from the rock formations in the area.

Settled in the late 1700s or early 1800s by those of Irish stock, even though Flatrock has an extremely exposed harbour (several times stores have wrecked havoc on the wharves, fishing stores, fishing stages, and warehouse, etc.) it had a long history with the fishing industry; farming also was of importance due to the fertile around the community.

Undoubtedly, due to the fact that it is only a 20 minute drive into the capital, Flatrock has an increasing population, as it is like other communities, considered a "bedroom" community of St. John's.

In 2011 there were 1,457 residents, but only 5 years later there were 1.,683 (a 15.5% increase).

One of the biggest tourist's draw to the town is the Lady of Lourdes Grotto "which is a monument to both the religious and community spint of Flatrock".

It is listed as one of Canada's Historic Places.

From the Town's Website comes this description of the Grotto: Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto, Flatrock, NL started in 1954 and was formally dedicated on August 17th, 1958 by the Most Reverend P.J. Skinner, C.J.M. D.D.; Archbishop of St. John's.

The inspiration for this beautiful Grotto came about as the result of a pilgrimage to Lourdes, France by the parish priest at that time, Reverend Father William Sullivan.

Father Sullivan, like so many Catholics that year, made a pilgrimage to Lourdes to mark the Marian Year, declared in 1954 by Pope Pius XII.

While visiting this renowned shrine, Father Sullivan was struck by the similarity of the Grotto terrain at Lourdes and the land surrounding the Church at Flatrock in his own parish.

Upon his return to his parish, Father Sullivan decided that Flatrock would be an ideal place to construct a shrine to Our Lady of Lourdes. He informed his parishioners of his dream and work soon began to make his dream a reality.

Today as a result of the hard work on the part of Flatrock parishioners and much support from friends outside the community, Flatrock lays claim to the largest religious Grotto in Eastern Canada.

Much of the design work, supervision and mason work for the Grotto was carried out by the late Michael Curtis of St. John's.

He, along with the voluntary help of the local people, began excavating the rock and gravel from the side of the cliff.

The first phase of the Grotto, the cave, in which stands the statue of Our Blessed Mother and St. Bernadette was completed in 1958, in time to mark the apparitions to Bernadette Soubirous at Lourdes, France.

In the following years the life-size Crucifix, the Stations of the Cross and the statue of St. Michael, Patron Saint of the Community were added. All were purchased through the direct contributions of parishioners and friends or placed there in memory of a loved one.

Annual parish devotions are held at the Grotto during the summer months.

The Legion of Mary from other parishes gather annually on the Sunday nearest the feast of the Assumption of Mary into Heaven to recite the Rosary.

There are also many daily visitors to the Grotto during the summer. These people not only visit from various parts of Newfoundland but from all over North America.

On September 12, 1984 a special blessing was accorded the Grotto and the people of the parish when His Holiness, Pope John Paul II visited Flatrock and knelt at Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto to pray.

Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto, Flatrock, NL started in 1954 and was formally dedicated on August 17th, 1958 by the Most Reverend P.J. Skinner, C.J.M. D.D.; Archbishop of St. John's.

Used with permission from "Uncovering the Origin of 1001 Unique Place Names in Newfoundland and Labrador" 2021 Jennifer Leigh Hill

Address of this page: http://nl.ruralroutes.com/FlatrockTorbay