Gold Hill in Rowan County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

Gold Hill Jail & English Dry-Stack Rock Wall

Photographed by Mark Parker, April 25, 2026

1. Gold Hill Jail & English Dry-Stack Rock Wall Marker

Inscription. Gold Hill Jail and Rock Wall was built around 1845 as Gold Hill was beginning to grow and prosper. The early 1850's the town was a bustling mining camp with numerous merchants and is said to have had around 26 Saloons. In a mining camp employing 2000-3000 men, you can bet the jail had its share of visitors.

The structure and the wall is of English Dry-Stack construction using the non-gold bearing ore left over from underground tunneling in the mines. The structure was built by Cornish stone masons from Cornwall, England. Descendants of those stone masons still live in Gold Hill. Two of those descendants, Robert and Benny Drew headed the team of workers who restored the wall and jail when the Historic Gold Hill and Mines Foundation, Inc. was established and restoration began here at Gold Hill Mines Historic Park.

The jail is open on weekends, during special events and for scheduled tours. Tours can be scheduled Thursday—Sunday at E. H. Montgomery General Store located in the village. Call 704-267-9439 for tour reservations.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Law Enforcement

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• Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1845.

Location. 35° 30.686′ N, 80° 20.728′ W. Marker is in Gold Hill, North Carolina, in Rowan County. It is on Saint Stephens Church Road 0.3 miles south of Baptist Church Road, on the left when traveling south. The laminated marker is posted to the door of the old jail, facing north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 530 St Stephens Church Rd, Gold Hill NC 28071, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in North Carolina’s Piedmont.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Gold Hill, North Carolina Est. 1843 (within shouting distance of this marker); The 19th Century View from the Miller Shaft

Gold Hill Jail & English Dry-Stack Rock Wall image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, April 25, 2026

2. Gold Hill Jail & English Dry-Stack Rock Wall

Marker is attached to the wooden door, facing north. The wall is along St. Stephens Church Road.

(within shouting distance of this marker); Chilean Ore Mill (within shouting distance of this marker); Russell-Rufty Shelter (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Village of Gold Hill (about 300 feet away); Gold Hill Methodist Church Bell (about 300 feet away); Gold Hill Mining District (about 300 feet away); Randolph Shaft (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Gold Hill.

Also see . . . Historic Gold Hill. (Submitted on May 6, 2026.)

Photographed by Mark Parker, April 25, 2026

3. Gold Hill Jail & English Dry-Stack Rock Wall

Credits. This page was last revised on May 6, 2026. It was originally submitted on May 1, 2026, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. This page has been viewed 11 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on May 1, 2026, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.