Olde Towne in Portsmouth, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Norfolk County Court House

1845 - 1962

Photographed by Laura Troy, November 12, 2007

1. Norfolk County Court House Marker

Inscription.
Begun 1845, occupied 20 July 1846. The architect, Wm. R. Singleton, a Portsmouth native, also designed the old Norfolk City Court House. This building stands on one of the four corners dedicated for public use in 1752 by Lt. Col. William Crawford, founder of Portsmouth. The site was formerly occupied by the clerk's office when an earlier Court House, occupied in 1803, stood on the Northeast corner, opposite.

Erected 1961 by Virginia State Library. (Marker Number Q-8-N.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series list. A significant historical date for this entry is July 20, 1846.

Location. 36° 50.127′ N, 76° 18.062′ W. Marker is in Portsmouth, Virginia. It is in Olde Towne. It is at the intersection of Court Street and High Street, on the left when traveling north on Court Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 400 High St, Portsmouth VA 23704, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Virginia’s Hampton Roads,

specifically in Coastal Virginia,

and in the Hampton Roads Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

and in the Tidewater.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

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: The 1846 Courthouse (within shouting distance of this marker); Towne Square (within shouting distance of this marker); Trinity Church (within shouting distance of this marker); The Commodore Theatre

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(within shouting distance of this marker); Col. Bernard Magnien (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Trinity Church (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Court Street Baptist Church (about 300 feet away); a different marker also named Court Street Baptist Church (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Portsmouth.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Confederate Monument (was a few steps from this marker but has been permanently removed).

The Courthouse image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Laura Troy, November 12, 2007

2. The Courthouse

Virginia Historic Landmark image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Laura Troy, November 12, 2007

3. Virginia Historic Landmark

Portsmouth-Norfolk County Court House has been registered as a Virginia Historic Landmark pursuant to the authority vested in the Virginia Historic Landmark Commission Act of 1966

Photographed by Mike Wintermantel, February 12, 2014

4. Norfolk County Court House Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on March 31, 2026. It was originally submitted on November 12, 2007, by Laura Troy of Burke, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,374 times since then and 38 times this year. Last updated on March 29, 2026, by Caleb Kemplin of Virginia Beach, Virginia. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 12, 2007, by Laura Troy of Burke, Virginia. 4. submitted on February 14, 2014, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.