Chowan County Courthouse

The Chowan County Courthouse is a historic courthouse in Edenton, the county seat of Chowan County, North Carolina. Built in 1767, it is one of the finest examples of public Georgian architecture in the American South. It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1970.[2][3]

Chowan County Courthouse
Main façade of Chowan County Courthouse
Chowan County Courthouse is located in North Carolina
Chowan County Courthouse
Chowan County Courthouse is located in the United States
Chowan County Courthouse
Location101 S Broad St.,
Edenton, North Carolina
Coordinates36°3′37″N 76°36′29″W
Built1767
Architectural styleGeorgian
NRHP reference No.70000447
Significant dates
Added to NRHPApril 15, 1970[1]
Designated NHLApril 15, 1970[2]

Description and history

The old Chowan County Courthouse is located in downtown Edenton, at the northwest corner of East King and Court Streets. It is separated from the city waterfront by a one-block park. It is a two-story, "T"-shaped Georgian style building. It has a one-story semicircular apse at its center rear and features a two-stage wooden cupola with ogival roof surmounted by a tall-weathervane. The interior has a large courtroom on the ground floor, and a ballroom on the second. The building has seen only relatively modest alterations.[3]

Edenton was settled in 1658 and incorporated in 1712, and is counted as the first permanent European settlement in North Carolina. Its first courthouse, built in 1719, was also the seat of the colonial assembly, and was located on the land of the park. This courthouse was commissioned to be built in 1766, and completed in 1767, and its design has been attributed to Gilbert Leigh, who was living in Edenton at the time of its construction. It has also been attributed to John Hawks, who designed Tryon Palace in New Bern, was active in North Carolina at the time.[3] It is the oldest courthouse building in North Carolina.[4]

The courthouse is one of several sites of Historic Edenton. Other historic sites open for tour include the James Iredell House, Roanoke River Light, Barker House, Cupola House and St. Paul's Church.

See also

References
  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. January 23, 2007.
  2. "Chowan County Courthouse". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Archived from the original on March 2, 2007. Retrieved February 23, 2008.
  3. Polly M. Rettig and Charles W. Snell (March 12, 1975). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Chowan County Court House" (pdf). National Park Service. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help) and Accompanying three photos, exterior and interior, from 1969 and 1940 (32 KB)
  4. Barlow 2012, p. 3.

Works cited
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