National Historic Landmark

Chowan County Courthouse

Edenton, Chowan County, North Carolina
Listed
April 14, 1970
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
70000447

About this property

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. 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. Its brickwork is laid in Flemish bond. 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. 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. It is the oldest courthouse building in North Carolina. 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. List of National Historic Landmarks in North Carolina National Register of Historic Places listings in Chowan County, North Carolina Barlow, Ava (2012), Architecture Styles in North Carolina Courthouses (PDF), North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) No. NC-12-G-3, "Chowan County Courthouse, East King Street, Edenton, Chowan County, NC", 4 photos, 5 measured drawings, 2 data pages

Location

Edenton, Chowan County, North Carolina
36.06033, -76.60798

Categories

ARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Nearby Historic Sites

Iredell, James, House
Industrial
0.1 mi
St. Paul's Episcopal Church and Churchyard
Industrial
0.1 mi
Cupola House
Colonial
0.2 mi
Wessington House
Industrial
0.2 mi
Pembroke Hall
Industrial
0.2 mi

Nearby Battles

Battle of Albemarle Sound (Albemarle II)
1864Civil War
7.3 mi

Questions about this property

When was Chowan County Courthouse listed on the National Register?

Chowan County Courthouse was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on April 14, 1970.

What type of historic resource is Chowan County Courthouse?

Chowan County Courthouse is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

Is Chowan County Courthouse a National Historic Landmark?

Yes. Chowan County Courthouse has been designated a National Historic Landmark (NHL), the highest level of federal recognition for historic properties in the United States.

What is the period of significance for Chowan County Courthouse?

The period of significance for Chowan County Courthouse is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Chowan County Courthouse?

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