Hanover County Courthouse
Why it's listed
Hanover County Courthouse is a one-story brick building on the east side of Route 301 at Hanover Court House, Virginia. Built around 1735, about fifteen years after the county was formed from part of New Kent County, it has been in continuous use since construction. Its most distinctive feature is a five-bay arcade set under the roof on the facade. The brick is laid in Flemish bond with glazed headers, with rubbed brick around the arches, windows and door. A steep hipped roof, three interior end chimneys and a modillioned cornice complete the exterior. The T-shaped plan places the courtroom in the center, with the judge's chamber and jury room in the arms, each with a corner fireplace. In 1763 Patrick Henry argued the Parson's Cause here, and in 1862 J. E. B. Stuart received his Major General's commission at the site. Most early county records were lost in the 1865 Richmond fire. The courthouse is valued as a well-preserved colonial courthouse type.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is a well-preserved example of a colonial Virginia courthouse type, in continuous use since construction. It was also the scene of Patrick Henry's first well-known case, the Parson's Cause, in 1763, and of J. E. B. Stuart's 1862 commission as a Confederate Major General.
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 69000247, listed October 1, 1969. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Jct. of Rte. 1006 and U.S. 301, Hanover Court House |
|---|---|
| County | Hanover County |
| Listed | October 1, 1969 |
| Reference number | 69000247 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Colonial Virginia courthouse type |
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated November 7, 1973 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in very good condition and still serving its original function as a courthouse; owned by Hanover County. |
| Acreage | 6.3 |
| Within district | Hanover County Courthouse Historic District |
| Coordinates | 37.76319, -77.36721 (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 69000247.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14712462
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.