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Alberton Courthouse

457 Church Street, Alberton, Prince Edward Island, C0B, Canada

Formally Recognized: 2003/11/03

In Colour; Province of PEI
Front and Side Elevation
No Image
No Image

Other Name(s)

Alberton Courthouse
The Alberton Museum

Links and documents

Construction Date(s)

1878/01/01

Listed on the Canadian Register: 2004/09/28

Statement of Significance

Description of Historic Place

The Alberton Courthouse resides on the corner of Church and Howlan Streets facing Church street. The courthouse is a one and one half storey gabled structure which consists of a main floor and a gaol in the basement. It was one of six circuit courthouses constructed across the Province.

Heritage Value

The Alberton Courthouse's heritage value resides in its association with the judicial history of the Province. Built in 1878 by James Wiggins & Sons, it was one of six circuit courthouses constructed following the passage of the County Courts Act in 1873.

The building is architecturally significant because it is one of two circuit courthouses that contained a gaol/jail and two large front windows. The Town of Souris, in the eastern part of the Province was the only other place which had a courthouse similar in design to Alberton. This has not survived.

Source: PEI Heritage Advisory Board files

Character-Defining Elements

The following elements should be preserved:

- The height of one and one half storeys and gabled roof
- The brick foundation
- The series of single arched windows with original glass on all elevations
- The projecting, one storey, flat roofed vestibule with detailing typical of the period, displaying eave returns and elaborate cornice.
- The round window in the upper gable, trimmed in the centre piece fashion.
- The basement windows indicative of the former prisoner cells with barred windows with single, hinged exterior shutters.
- The original siding made of Eastern cedar.
- The gray asphalt shingles on the roof.

Recognition

Jurisdiction

Prince Edward Island

Recognition Authority

Province of Prince Edward Island

Recognition Statute

Heritage Places Protection Act

Recognition Type

Designated Historic Place

Recognition Date

2003/11/03

Historical Information

Significant Date(s)

n/a

Theme - Category and Type

Governing Canada
Security and Law

Function - Category and Type

Current

Leisure
Museum

Historic

Government
Courthouse and/or Registry Office

Architect / Designer

n/a

Builder

James Wiggins & Sons

Additional Information

Location of Supporting Documentation

Located in the Culture and Heritage Division, Department of Community and Cultural Affairs, Charlottetown, PE C1A 7N8 File #: 4310-20/A1

Cross-Reference to Collection

Fed/Prov/Terr Identifier

4310-20/A1

Status

Published

Related Places

n/a

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