The Courthouse

Courthouse

According to Judge Prowse¹ the first Placentia Court House was erected in 1774. During the 1780's, the local authorities permitted the Catholic populace to use this structure as a house of worship. Prince William Henry (later William IV) visited the colony in 1786 and did not consider the Catholic use of the structure suitable in a Protestant colony; as a result, he forbade them the use of the building. The building was continually used as a court house without repair until the later 1880's, when the

Placentia building was listed among the four outpost court houses in the worst condition. At this time, the Grand Jury repeatedly urged Government to repair the building or replace it with a new one.

Nothing was done until 1902 when the aged edifice was finally pulled down and the cornerstone of the new building was laid. The new building was finished about 1903 or 1904. The building had many purposes, such as the Postal Telegraph and Customs Offices, the Gaoler's residence, the Constable's residence, the Court Room, Gaol and Magistrate's offices. The building itself was very similar to the Bonavista Court House of 1897-99, though somewhat smaller in size.

Today the building serves only as a courthouse.

Related Reading: History of Placentia Magistrates

¹Prowse, D.W. (1972). History of Newfoundland. Belleville, Ontario: Mika Studio. (First printed in 1895 by Macmillan & Co., London)

Back to Index of Topics

Back to Placentia Page

This Page is a part of a Historical and Cultural Web Site created by the students of Laval High School Placentia, NFLD (A0B 2Y0) Edited February, 2000.