The territorial distribution of judicial authority in Ontario dates to the early years of British rule following the Conquest of New France. In 1788 the government of the Province of Quebec divided the western portion of the colony into four "districts": Hesse, Nassau, Mecklenburg, and Lunenburg. Following the Constitutional Act 1791, these districts became the basis of the newly created Upper Canada. In 1792 the districts were renamed Western, Home, Midland, and Eastern. At this time the government began subdividing districts into counties, and counties into townships.
In October 1792, the Parliament of Upper Canada passed An act for building a gaol and court house in every district within this province. This law handed judicial power to districts and mandated the construction of a courthouse in each district town.
During the first half of the 19th century, the borders of districts, counties, and townships changed frequently from realignments, mergers, and newly created areas. In 1849 the government abolished the district system and transferred all judicial and administrative responsibilities to individual counties. Each county created a county seat, which served as its capital and was home to its courthouse. Following the 1849 abolition of districts, counties that did not possess a former district courthouse had to build a new edifice.
In the 20th century many of Ontario's historic counties were replaced by regional or metropolitan areas. The majority the province's 19th century courthouses still exist and have legal protection on the Canadian Register of Historic Places. Ontario's historic courthouses represent a diverse array of architectural styles, including Italianate, Romanesque, Greek Revival, Second Empire, and Art Deco.
District courthouses (pre-1849) DistrictCountyCounty TownBuiltArchitectNotesPhotoColbornePeterboroughPeterborough1838Joseph ScobellEasternStormontCornwall1826Archibald FraserJohnstownLeedsBrockville1842John George HowardKentKentChatham1848William ThomasLondonMiddlesexLondon1827John EwartNiagaraLincolnNiagara-on-the-Lake1846William ThomasCounty seat moved to St. Catharines in 1862. The building is now known as the Court House Theatre and is used for the Shaw Festival.OttawaPrescottL'Original1825unknownPrince EdwardPrince EdwardPicton1832VictoriaHastingsBelleville1838Thomas RogersDemolished in 1972.WellingtonWellingtonGuelph1842Thomas Young
County courthouses (post-1849) CountySeatBuiltArchitectNotesPhotoBrantBrantford1852John TurnerBruceWalkerton1863David MurrayCarletonOttawa1870Robert SurteesNow used as the Ottawa Arts Court Theatre. The courthouse for the region is now the Ottawa Courthouse. DufferinOrangeville1880Cornelius John SouleElginSt. Thomas1852, 1899John Turner, Neil Darrach (reconstruction)Burned down in 1898. Rebuilt using parts of original.EssexSandwich1855Albert Henry JordanBuilt by future Prime Minister Alexander Mackenzie. Now known as Mackenzie Hall.FrontenacKingston1855Edward Horsey, John PowerIn 1875 a fire destroyed the interior and the dome. The reconstructed interior and dome were designed by John Power and his son Joseph.GreyOwen Sound1852Bruce GeorgeNo longer used.HaldimandCayuga1850Cumberland and RidoutBurned down in 1922.1923Frank BarberHaltonMilton1854Clark and MurrayNo longer in use. HuronGoderich1854Mellish Morrell and RussellBased on the design of Waterloo County. Burned down in 1954.1956Leonard Gordon BridgmanLambtonSarnia1852Alexander MackenzieDemolished in 1960.LanarkPerth1862Henry Hodge HorseyLennox and AddingtonNapanee1864John Power, Thomas FullerLincolnSt. Catharines1848, 1864Kivas Tully (town hall), John Latshaw (courts)Built in 1848 as the St. Catharines town hall. When the county seat moved in 1864, an addition was made to house the courts.NorfolkSimcoe1863John TurnerNo longer in use.NorthumberlandCobourg1856Kivas TullyNow Victoria Hall. A new courthouse for Northumberland County has been constructed. OntarioWhitby1853Cumberland and StormNow known as the Centennial Building.OxfordWoodstock1889Robert Brookes, Cuthbertson and FowlerPeelBrampton1865William KauffmannNow houses the Peel Art Gallery, Museum and Archives.PerthStratford1885George F. DurandRenfrewPembroke1862Henry Hodge HorseySimcoeBarrie1877George H. BrownDemolished in 1976.VictoriaLindsay1862Frederic William CumberlandWaterlooKitchener1852Mellish and RussellDemolished in 1965.WellandWelland1854Kivas TullyWentworthHamilton1878Charles Willer MulliganDemolished in 1956.YorkAdelaide Street Courthouse1852Cumberland and RidoutServed as courthouse until 1900.Old City Hall, Toronto1900Edward James LennoxYork County functions transferred to Newmarket in 1953. Remained as principal courthouse for City of Toronto until 2023 when court services moved to 10 Armoury Street.Newmarket1883Mallory & SonsBecame seat of York County in 1953 as a result of the creation of Metropolitan Toronto. After dissolution of York County in 1971 remained a town hall until 1975 and a courthouse until 1980 when court services moved to 50 Eagle Street. Now a cultural and social venue.
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