Currituck in Currituck County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

Currituck County Old Jail

Photographed by Laura Troy, October 1, 2007

1. Currituck County Old Jail

Inscription. Thursday the 31st December 1767 "On motion the following Bills were ordered to be read ... A Bill to impower the justices of Currituck County to build a prison pillary and stocks in the said county on the lot were the Court House stands for the use of the said county, in the Upper House read the third time and passed. Ordered to be engrossed."

The construction date of the "Old Currituck Jail" remains uncertain. Though there was mention of a jail as early as 1767 when the general assembly passed an act "to empower the Justices of Currituck to build a new prison pillary and stocks," there is no evidence that the present jail dates from this early period.

The jail, believed to have been constructed ca. 1820, is one of the oldest extant jails in North Carolina. The small, three-bay jacobean influenced brick jail is a sturdy two-story, rectangular building laid up in common bond with brick walls thirty-two inches thick. The pedimented gable roof has parapets and a corbelled brick cornice extending along the eaves. Stone lintels surmont the windows and doors.

Remodeling done in the early 1900's enlarged the windows and replaced the original wood door with the present iron one.

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

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• Government & Politics • Law Enforcement • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical date for this entry is December 31, 1767.

Location. 36° 26.99′ N, 76° 0.956′ W. Marker is in Currituck, North Carolina, in Currituck County. It is on Courthouse Road (State Highway 1242) near Caratoke Highway (State Highway 168), on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Currituck NC 27929, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Coastal Plain 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 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Confederate Memorial (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Currituck County Courthouse (a few steps from this marker); Currituck County War Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Joseph Pilmoor (approx. ¼ mile away); Hijacking Maple Leaf (approx. 2.6 miles away); Henry M. Shaw (approx. 5.3 miles away); Yeopim (approx. 6.3 miles away); McKnight’s Shipyard (approx. 6.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Currituck.

Other markers no longer nearby. Currituck County Courthouse (was here, next to this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Maple Leaf (was approx. 2.6 miles

Currituck County Old Jail and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Kevin W., July 22, 2008

2. Currituck County Old Jail and Marker

away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

Old Currituck Jail image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Laura Troy, October 1, 2007

3. Old Currituck Jail

Credits. This page was last revised on June 23, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 23, 2008, by Laura Troy of Burke, Virginia. This page has been viewed 3,213 times since then and 59 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on October 1, 2007, by Laura Troy of Burke, Virginia. 2. submitted on July 23, 2008, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia. 3. submitted on October 1, 2007, by Laura Troy of Burke, Virginia. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.