Perquimans County Courthouse
Why it's listed
This brick courthouse sits in a shaded square in the middle of Hertford's commercial district. It is two and a half stories tall, with a gabled roof, brick laid in Flemish and common bonds, and a T-shaped plan. John Gatling built it between 1819 and 1825 to replace an early eighteenth-century frame courthouse. The front has a one-bay pedimented portico on molded brick columns, a double-door entrance with a fanlight, and a stuccoed pediment above. A rear ell was added in 1890, and the courtroom was enlarged again in 1952. A major restoration took place in 1932. Inside, raised-panel doors on H and L hinges, Georgian-style mantels, paneled wainscots and interior shutters survive. The layout closely parallels the 1767 Chowan County Courthouse, with the courtroom in the rear extension and offices and stair in the front block. The building reflects the prosperity of Hertford and Perquimans County in the early nineteenth century.
Significance in brief: It is the second courthouse on the Hertford site and retains much of its original interior finish despite later renovations. Its plan resembles the 1767 Chowan County Courthouse. It also reflects Hertford's small-town character and the county's early nineteenth-century prosperity.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 79001743, listed May 10, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Market St., Hertford |
|---|---|
| County | Perquimans County |
| Listed | May 10, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79001743 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | John Gatling (contractor) |
| Architectural style | Georgian-style interior detailing; T-shaped brick building with a pedimented portico |
| Areas of significance | Landscape Architecture, Politics/Government, Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Major restoration in 1932; courtroom expanded in 1890 and 1952; the building remains the county courthouse. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Hertford Historic District |
| Coordinates | 36.18932, -76.46495 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 79001743.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q19987509
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.