King William County Courthouse celebrates 300 Years
April 2025
story and photos by Gene Campbell, Contributing Writer
The oldest continuously used courthouse in the U.S. is in the heart of King William County, Va., surrounded by a picturesque rural landscape and deep echoes of history.
The brick courthouse, constructed around 1725, symbolizes tradition and heritage. It defies time by blending the past and present while transcending the limits of years. The rich history of the King William County Courthouse is a testament to the enduring legacy of America’s colonial heritage. It is listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.
On Saturday, April 12, this historic landmark will mark its 300th anniversary. The event will feature tours of the courthouse grounds and museum, historical reenactments, singing and dancing, local vendors, and speeches by officials and community leaders. Attendees will be able to learn more about the courthouse’s history and its role in shaping the community over the years. “King William County encourages you to come and take part in this grand celebration,” says Debi Moren, president of the King William County Historical Museum.
King William County was established on April 11, 1702, from King and Queen County and named in honor of King William III of England. The county’s first presiding justice, The Honorable Henry Fox (along with Capt. Richard Littlepage), conveyed a two-acre courthouse site to the county from a larger tract of land they jointly owned in central King William County. In its early days, a building was necessary to record land acquisitions, hold court and conduct county business.
Since the two acres already included a dwelling, this structure became the first courthouse. After 20 years of use, the house fell into irreparable condition due to relentless use by settlers. Consequently, in 1722, the justices of King William County, the governing body, petitioned and received approval from the House of Burgesses — which served as the lower house of the Virginia General Assembly from 1619 to 1776 — to construct a new courthouse. No records are available to establish the courthouse’s exact construction date. Still, it is believed that construction likely began shortly after the House of Burgesses granted its approval in 1722.
A tablet near the courthouse entrance is still visible today, indicating the construction date as 1725. To further support the 1725 date, the nearby Hanover County Courthouse, built in 1735, is said to have been designed after the King William County Courthouse.
THE TEST OF TIME
It is widely believed that the King William County Courthouse is one of the finest examples of colonial brickwork still in use today. Constructed from brick arranged in a Flemish bond pattern, it is named after the Flemish bricklayers who were brought over from England. The original Capitol building in Williamsburg is believed to have inspired the design. This one-story brick structure has a T-shaped layout and a slate-covered hipped roof, featuring five rounded brick arches that support an open portico roof. The floor of the portico is paved with large flagstones.
The front entry functions as the only door in the building’s exterior walls. Upon entering through the front door into the courtroom, small rooms designated for the justices and juries are visible on either side. The courtroom was heated by fires, with one fireplace situated behind the judge’s bench and one in each of the small adjoining rooms. The long windows flanking the courtroom allow for ample light. Many courthouses in Virginia once featured low brick walls around the complex to keep wandering livestock and cattle at bay. In 1840, such a wall was added to the King William County Courthouse complex and is considered the only one left fully intact.
The early courthouse played many roles in the community. In addition to being the center of government for the county, the courthouse served as a polling place for elections. Unlike today, there was no secret ballot; each voter had to stand before the sheriff and those present to declare his choice of candidates. Candidates often set out large bowls of punch to sway the undecided, a practice known as “swilling the planters with bumbo.” Hotly contested elections often led to fistfights. Another common activity at or near the courthouse was horse racing. Among the more unusual entertainment options offered at the courthouse were classes in dancing (minuet) and fencing, especially during the American Revolution, when many French, German and Polish officers arrived in the colonies.
A FREQUENT VISITOR
A crucial part of every courthouse setting was a tavern or inn, privately operated to accommodate travelers, justices, lawyers and anyone else with overnight business. King William’s early courthouse tavern was located to the east of the courthouse. It included a two-story building with four bedrooms on each floor and a porch that extended across the front. George Washington was a regular patron for meals at the tavern during his trips between Mount Vernon and Williamsburg to attend the House of Burgesses. He also frequently stopped at the tavern while courting his future wife, Martha, who lived nearby in New Kent County.
Today, the ongoing archaeological excavation of the tavern site by the Fairfield Foundation, commissioned by the King William County Historical Society, has uncovered numerous artifacts from centuries past. Among these discoveries are a nearly complete English delft plate from the 1740s and an 1850 gold coin. Presiding Circuit Court Judge B. Elliott Bondurant supervises activities at the courthouse.
As the oldest continuously used courthouse in the U.S., the King William County Courthouse is a testament to America’s colonial legacy. Its distinctive architecture and rich history make it a unique and significant landmark in American history. Whether you’re a history enthusiast, a resident or a visitor, the courthouse provides a fascinating glimpse into the past and an opportunity to connect with the people and events that shaped our nation. “Virginia is known as the birthplace of our nation, and the King William County Courthouse is the oldest courthouse in continuous use in the U.S.,” says Moren. “That fact has even appeared as a question on [the TV show] Jeopardy.”
Gene Campbell, a director for Rappahannock Electric Cooperative since 2018, is a volunteer writer and photographer for the Country Courier newspaper.
