Isle of Wight County - American Courthouses

Isle of Wight County is named for the Isle of Wight off the southern coast of England.

Surrounding County Courthouses:

N – Newport News

E – Suffolk

S – Southampton County

W – Franklin, Southampton County and Surry County

Created: 1634

County Seat:

Smithfield 1752 – 1801

Isle of Wight 1801 – present

County Courthouse – Isle of Wight

Location: 17000 Josiah Parker Circle / Courthouse Highway 258

Built: 2008 – 2010

Style: Modern

Architect: Moseley Architects

Contractor: Kenbridge Construction , Inc.

Description: The building faces northwest and is a two story red colored brick and concrete structure. The building is located on spacious landscaped grounds in the center of Isle of Wight. On the northwest front is a projecting center section with arched entrance on the first story. On the north and south are smaller projecting sections which rise to peaks. On the roof is a large white colored cupola. The roof is hipped. In the interior, the building features three functioning cupolas, each of which draws daylight deep into the interior. The building houses the County Circuit Court, County General District Court and County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court of the 5th Judicial Circuit. The building is named as the Young-Laine Courts Building.

Note: The county is one of the orginal 8 shires in 1634 of the Virginia Colony, being named as Warrosquyoake Shire.

See: The 5th Judicial Circuit includes Franklin, Southampton County and Suffolk.

Old County Courthouse – Isle of Wight

Location: 17140 Monument Circle / Courthouse Highway 258

Built: 1800 – 1801

Style: Colonial Revival

Architect: Major Francis Boykin

Contractor: Major Francis Boykin

Description: The building faces southeast and is a two story red colored brick structure. The building is located on spacious landscaped grounds in the center of Isle of Wight to the south of the courthouse. The southeast front of the original center section has a large portico with four narrow white colored columns rising to a pediment at the roof line. The recessed entrance is framed with white colored wood. The roof is hipped. In the interior is the former courtroom which is now the Commissioners Chamber. The building was remodeled in 1815 and 1903. An addition was built in 1822 and a fire proof vault added in 1892. The building was renovated in 1954 to 1955. The architect was Paul D Woodward and the contractor was Z Turner. In 1987, additions were constructed on the north and south sides. The additions have numerous arches along an arcade and are named as the Memorial Addition. The architect was Talbot & Associates, Ltd and the contractor was Henderson, Inc.

Note: Major Francis Boykin donated the land for the courthouse and saw to the erection of the courthouse and the tavern on the south side.

County Administration Building – Isle of Wight

Location: 16808 Courthouse Highway 258 / Monument Circle

Built: 2002 – 2004

Style: Modern

Architect: Moseley Architects

Contractor: O K Construction , Inc.

Description: The building faces southwest and is a one story red colored brick and concrete structure. The building is located on spacious landscaped grounds in the center of Isle of Wight to the south of the courthouse. The southwest front at the center has a semi-circular porch supported by columns. The roof comes to a peak on the east side and on the west side and is hipped.

Old County County Courthouse – Smithfield

Location: 130 Main Street / Mason Street

Built: 1750 – 1752

Style: Colonial Revival

Architect: William Rand.

Contractor: William Rand.

Description: The building faces southeast and is a one story red colored brick structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Smithfield. The front has an arcade with numerous arches. On the northwest side is a circular section with conical roof. The roof is hipped. The building was restored in 1938 and again in 1959 to 1961. The architect was A Lawrence Kockner.