Adjoining the homes are small vegetable gardens which are neatly kept and cultivated. As in so many places throughout the country their beautiful Church occupies a commanding site, with presbytery grounds nearby. The town has a school with a fine tradition, a school in which some of the most notable of the country's teachers impart knowledge to the young. Holyrood was the baiting centre for the ships that prosecuted the bank fishery, and squadding was a sizeable industry in which young and old engaged. In late years, however, the bait fishery has not been so plentiful, and few ships are now seen in the spacious harbour but there is here a large refrigeration plant operated by Fishery Products, where bait fishes are frozen and transported by motor truck to more convenient points of call for the vessels.
Blueberries are also frozen.
Holyrood is also a town of business men - here are ample stores which supply the area with everything from a needle to an anchor. It caters a good deal too, to summer visitors and its position near the Witless Bay Line makes it a focal point for traffic going there for trouting in summer, the shooting when October crisps the air, and falling leaves float gently down to barrens alive with partridge. Behind the hills the Valley spreads itself with the neat, but somewhat lonely houses and farms. Whilst seemingly in every garden, as if to make up for its isolation, grow wild roses in such profusion they carpet the roadsides with their untamed, half-shy beauty. A visit to the Valley is well worthwhile.