Sheriff's House and County Jail
In 1857 New Castle County constructed a new prison complex on this site. Designed by famous Philadelphia architect, Samuel Sloan, the facility had two parts. The Sheriff's House (seen at left in this 1893 photo) provided a roomy residence for the County Sheriff and his family. The prison (to its right) could house as many as forty inmates. The 1885 plan below shows details of the complex.
The county seat moved to Wilmington in 1881, but the Sheriff's House and County Jail remained in service until 1902 when the new county prison opened at Greenbank. The jail in New Castle was town down in 1912. The Sheriff's House continued to be used, most notably as the home of New Castle Club and, finally as the city police headquarters until 1997. The National Park Service now manages the Sheriff's House as part of First State National Historical Park.
The whipping post and pillory in the New Castle Prison Yard are shown in use in this 1896 painting by Edward Lamson Henry. Delaware was the last state to abolish the whipping post. The last whipping was in 1952, but the state did not outlaw the practice until 1972.
[1893 photo courtesy of] Delaware Public Archives, Dover, Delaware
[1885 floor plan] Courtesy of the Delaware Historical Society
Erected by City of New Castle and the
this page online
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings. A significant historical year for this entry is 1857.
Location. 39° 39.594′ N, 75° 33.791′ W. Marker is in New Castle, Delaware, in New Castle County. Marker is on Market Street north of Delaware Street, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 211 Delaware Street, New Castle DE 19720, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. New Castle Common (a few steps from this marker); Presbyterian Church (within shouting distance of this marker); The Welcome Society of Pennsylvania (within shouting distance of this marker); New Castle Court House 1732 (within shouting distance of this marker); Delaware's Independence Hall (within shouting distance of this marker); Penn's Place (within shouting distance of this marker); William Penn (within shouting distance of this marker); Frenchtown Railroad Sleepers (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in New Castle.
Also see . . . First State National Historical Park. (Submitted on April 8, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
Credits. This page was last revised on March 29, 2022. It was originally submitted on April 8, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 595 times since then and 76 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on March 25, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. 2. submitted on April 8, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. 3. submitted on March 25, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. 4, 5, 6. submitted on April 8, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. 7. submitted on February 2, 2022, by Adam Margolis of Mission Viejo, California.
