Debtor's Prison
Why it's listed
A single-room log jail beside Route 15 in Worsham served as the debtors' prison for Prince Edward County. Authorized in 1786 and accepted the following year, it was built by Richard Bibb for fifty-two pounds. The building measures 14 by 18 feet, with closely fitted square hewn logs joined by half dovetailed corners. The floor and ceiling are also made of heavy squared logs, and the ceiling logs project to form a slight roof overhang. Worsham was the county seat from 1754 until 1872, and this is the oldest public building in the county. Imprisonment for debt ended in the nineteenth century, and the jail was converted to a residence, apparently as early as 1820. The Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities bought it in 1950 and restored it in 1951, removing later additions. Its documented origins and well-made log construction make it a rare surviving eighteenth-century log public building in Virginia.
Significance in brief: It is the oldest public building in Prince Edward County, which had its county seat at Worsham from 1754 until 1872. It is also a documented eighteenth-century log public building, a rare survival in Virginia. Its finely fitted squared logs form the floor and ceiling as well as the walls.
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 72001412, listed September 22, 1972. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | On U.S. 15, Worsham |
|---|---|
| County | Prince Edward County |
| Listed | September 22, 1972 |
| Reference number | 72001412 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 18th Century |
| Architect / builder | Richard Bibb (paid fifty-two pounds for its construction) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as good condition, unaltered, on its original site; used as a museum. Restored in 1951, with further restoration and repair scheduled. |
| Acreage | 1.5 |
| Coordinates | 37.22901, -78.44288 (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 72001412.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5248625
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.