123 Frederick Street - Parr Division
Charlotte County Court House is designated a National Historic Site and a Provincial Historic Site for its architectural significance and for its continuous use as a courthouse for over 170 years.
Charlotte County Court House is recognized for its architecture. It is an elegant structure that illustrates its functional importance through its massiveness, symmetry, balance, architectural detail and quality of construction. Built by Thomas Berry in 1839-40, this building is an example of county court houses built in New Brunswick in the mid-19th century, reflecting a vernacular building tradition with Classical principles. It is an extremely well-preserved public building constructed of local pine and set on a stone foundation. It is one of the most significant Neo-Classical style buildings in Canada, illustrated by its strong four-column Tuscan portico and pediment on the long side of the 75 foot by 55 foot gabled block. The Court House’s spatial relationship to the adjacent Charlotte County Gaol is exemplified by its proximity and the discreet side door leading from the courtroom to the Gaol yard. The setting of the building, at the top of the sloped public square, with its formal frontal orientation towards the center of the town, creates an imposing public image symbolic of its purpose and ideals.
Charlotte County Court House is also recognized as an historic courthouse and for its continued use as a courthouse for Charlotte County. In the early years of its history, the Court House was also the focal point for community activities such as elections, fairs, parades and official visits, and continues to be used for many additional purposes to this day.
The character-defining elements include:
The character-defining elements that describe the interior of the Charlotte County Court House include:
The character-defining elements that describe the Charlotte County Court House property include:
Architectural Style: Neo-Classical
Sources: Department of Wellness, Culture and Sport, Heritage Branch, File Vol. I-6, 12765-2. St. Andrews Civic Trust.
Charlotte County Court House is recognized for its architecture. It is an elegant structure that illustrates its functional importance through its massiveness, symmetry, balance, architectural detail and quality of construction. Built by Thomas Berry in 1839-40, this building is an example of county court houses built in New Brunswick in the mid-19th century, reflecting a vernacular building tradition with Classical principles. It is an extremely well-preserved public building constructed of local pine and set on a stone foundation. It is one of the most significant Neo-Classical style buildings in Canada, illustrated by its strong four-column Tuscan portico and pediment on the long side of the 75 foot by 55 foot gabled block. The Court House’s spatial relationship to the adjacent Charlotte County Gaol is exemplified by its proximity and the discreet side door leading from the courtroom to the Gaol yard. The setting of the building, at the top of the sloped public square, with its formal frontal orientation towards the center of the town, creates an imposing public image symbolic of its purpose and ideals.
Charlotte County Court House is also recognized as an historic courthouse and for its continued use as a courthouse for Charlotte County. In the early years of its history, the Court House was also the focal point for community activities such as elections, fairs, parades and official visits, and continues to be used for many additional purposes to this day.
The character-defining elements include:
- symmetrical and ordered structure of five bays with a grand central double door;
- typical pitched gable roof;
- front portico comprised of an impressive triangular pediment supported by four large Tuscan wood columns;
- pine Tuscan pilasters at each building corner and under the front portico;
- random coursed, roughly squared rubble stone foundation walls made of red sandstone, featurin
- the date “1840” carved below the wooden skirt board on the Western façade;
- considerable fenestration throughout;
- detailed British Royal coat of arms carved in wood by Charles Kennedy in 1858, set within the front pediment’s tympanum.
The character-defining elements that describe the interior of the Charlotte County Court House include:
- distinctive spatial qualities of the lofty courtroom, nearly unchanged from its original arrangement, flanked on both the East and West sides by ancillary rooms;
- original painted wood courtroom furniture and original built in furniture still in use;
- painted wood railings throughout the courtroom supported by of a string of thick turned balusters;
- original window and door trim throughout the building, carved in a squared Greek Revival pattern;
- pair of brass pillar lights on the judge’s dias;
- set of brass weights and measures from 1854, used for years as official standards for commercial quantity.
The character-defining elements that describe the Charlotte County Court House property include:
- location adjacent to one of the few remaining public squares, giving an imposing view of the building and its purpose, and highlighting the significance of historic public open spaces.
Architectural Style: Neo-Classical
Sources: Department of Wellness, Culture and Sport, Heritage Branch, File Vol. I-6, 12765-2. St. Andrews Civic Trust.