Lewes Historic District in Sussex County, Delaware — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Ryves Holt House
Oldest Building Standing in State of Delaware
Photographed By Mike Stroud, October 18, 2011
1. Ryves Holt House Marker
Ryves Holt
Chief Justice
of “Three Lower Counties On Delaware,” 1745 to 1763
Member of Assembly
of “Three Lower Counties On Delaware,”
1734-1737, 1742-1744, 1746-1755,
And Speaker of Assembly
1742-1744, and 1746-1752.
Ryves Holt was probably born in 1696
and died in 1763.
Ryves Holt House
Built 1665
Oldest Building
Standing in
State of Delaware.
Listed on National
Register 1977.
Placed by
Delaware State Society
Colonial Dames XVII Century
October 2, 1990
Coat of Arms
Placed here by the
Colonial David Hall Chapter
Daughters of the American Revolution
26
Erected 1932 by Historic Marker Commission, Delaware State Society Colonial Dames, Colonial David Hall Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Daughters of the American Revolution series list. A significant historical month for this entry is October 1974.
Location. 38° 46.552′ N, 75° 8.465′
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. John Penrose Virden (a few steps from this marker); Old Court House (within shouting distance of this marker); St. Peter's Episcopal Church (within shouting distance of this marker); Old Bethel Church (within shouting distance of this marker); Lewes (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); The New Devon Inn (about 300 feet away); Dodds Corner (about 400 feet away); Shipbuilding (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lewes.
Regarding Ryves Holt House. The Coat of Arms that the City of Lewes uses on its police cruisers and on City Hall is actually from Lewes, East Sussex, England. It’s origins date back to the Norman Conquest a thousand years ago. The gold and blue checkers are the arms of the de Warenne family who held the Barony of Lewes from the time of the Norman Conquest until 1347, when the last de Warenne died.
A nephew, Richard Fitz Alan, Earl of Arundel, succeeded to the barony and added the gold lion on the red ground. The introduction of the silver crosslets has never been satisfactorily explained
Photographed By Mike Stroud, October 18, 2011
2. Ryves Holt House Marker
Also see . . . The Ryves Holt House Is Delaware’s Oldest Building, Dating Back To 1665. Only In Your State entry. (Submitted on October 8, 2020, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
Photographed By Mike Stroud, October 18, 2011
3. Ryves Holt House Colonial Dames National Register Plaque
Photographed By Mike Stroud, October 18, 2011
4. Ryves Holt House and Marker
Photographed By Mike Stroud, October 18, 2011
5. Ryves Holt House
Credits. This page was last revised on May 6, 2023. It was originally submitted on October 28, 2011, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 719 times since then and 45 times this year. Last updated on April 30, 2023, by Carolyn Sanders of Plano, Texas. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 7, 2011, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. 3. submitted on November 8, 2011, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. 4, 5. submitted on November 7, 2011, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.
