920 Hull St
Richmond, VA, USA

National Register of Historic Places - Manchester Courthouse (Hustings Court Part II;DHR 127-5010)

Statement of Significant:

The Manchester Courthouse, designed by prominent 19th-century Richmond architect Albert West, in the south side of Richmond, Virginia, is a Colonial Revival building possessing some evidence of Italianate influence. The original courthouse built in 1871 was a one-story rectangular building. Subsequent additions in 1923, 1940 and 1969 have enlarged the existing facility, which includes a basement level extending under part of the building. In addition to its architectural significance, the Manchester Courthouse embodies a visible historical connection among Chesterfield County, the City of Richmond and the former City of Manchester. It has remained a conspicuous official presence for the 126 years of its operation and as such has maintained a historical continuity in this area paralleled by no other extant edifice. Compounded with its importance to recovery post-Civil War Chesterfield and 20th century Richmond, the courthouse stands as the only surviving building that recalls the years of the City of Manchester.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
The Manchester Courthouse was built in 1871 to serve as the courthouse and government center for the newly- relocated county seat of Chesterfield County. It belongs chronologically to the Colonial Revival style of the 1870's but differs from the more elaborate style of that period because it appears to be a classical revival architectural design more typically found in the early twentieth century. The decorative Italianate cornice brackets, supported by volutes over the windows of the north facade, belie its nineteenth century origins and situate the courthouse during that time, rather than the twentieth century.
Shortly after Manchester was incorporated as a city in 1874, Chesterfield County returned its county seat to its original location in Chesterfield. Manchester existed as an independent city for 36 years, until in 1910 Manchester was consolidated with the City of Richmond. The Courthouse became Richmond's second courthouse, serving as Hustings Court of the City of Richmond, Part II.
Serving as a practical and functional governmental facility, the Manchester Courthouse also maintains a long and solid historical continuity between two of Virginia's cities and one county, serving its original judicial function for over 126 years. Today the courthouse is the focal point of a renewed grassroots interest in the revitalization of the Manchester.
The history of Manchester extends well beyond the 126 years of judicial service of the Courthouse. The Town of Manchester is recognized as among the earliest settlements in Virginia. The first permanent settlement at the site was established on May 13, 1609, by Sir Thomas West. It was subjected to two Indian attacks, the first on March 22, 1622 and the second on April 18, 1647. On both occasions these attacks "swept away the entire population.'" In 1769 the name of the settlement was changed from Rocky Ridge to Manchester after the Manakin Indian tribe which had occupied the site. Manchester had involvement in both the Revolutionary War and the Civil War. During the Revolutionary War the town was burned by Benedict Arnold. Manchester escaped serious damage during the Civil War but was involved in the siege of Richmond and had its own military unit, the Manchester Elliott Grays.

In 1869 the Board of Supervisors of Chesterfield County proposed moving the county seat from its more central location in Chesterfield to the Town of Manchester. The move was approved by referendum and the county seat was moved in 1870. Provisions were made for the construction of a new courthouse in Manchester and the existing courthouse in Chesterfield was converted into a house for the poor. Construction began on the new courthouse in Manchester and was completed by 1871. The architect was Albert L. West; Captain V.J. Clutter was the general contractor; and Mr. J. H. Ragland was responsible for brickwork and masonry. Construction began in 1871, "[o]n January 13, 1871, the town [Manchester] agreed with the county of Chesterfield to allow the Chesterfield Court House and Clerk's Office to be built on the town square on the south side of Hull Street between Ninth and Tenth Streets. The town would put up $10,000 towards its erection." and "[o]n July 28, 1871, The Richmond Enquirer reported that Chesterfield County had accepted the new building, and that the next session of the court would be held there." The Manchester Masonic Lodge performed a cornerstone ceremony on March 31, 1871.

The architect of the original building, Albert L. West (1825-1892), was a resident of Richmond for most of his life. West, "...began designing and building various structures in Richmond during the 1850s", and he was, "[especially interested in ecclesiastical architecture...." West was also involved socially in Manchester, "[a]s teacher, superintendent, and for many years president of the Sunday School Association of Richmond and Manchester....""" One of West's larger churches was the Broad Street Methodist Church, 1859-1970. Referred to as "architecture in the Italian style...", but better characterized as "a Victorian adaptation of the classical style." Similar remarks could be made about the courthouse.
Manchester remained the Chesterfield County seat until 1874, when the citizens of Manchester voted to become an independent city. Manchester was incorporated in 1874 and Chesterfield County immediately began efforts to relocate the county seat to its former site in Chesterfield; in 1876 this relocation was complete. By 1886 the Courthouse shared its square block of land with the city jail and the Manchester Fire House no. 1, the city market house and a Methodist Episcopal Church. By 1905 the jail had been relocated but its building was still occupied by the fire department and some city offices. The church building later became E.C. Shields Knitting Works which was closed by 1905.

Manchester functioned as an independent city for 36 years until April 15, 1910, when it was consolidated with Richmond following a referendum vote. Some of the main points of the consolidation agreement included provisions stating that: Manchester would become Washington Ward of the City of Richmond with representation on the bicameral city assembly proportionate to other wards, and the Manchester Corporation Court, and an office, where Washington Ward's residents could pay taxes conveniently, would be permanently maintained.10 At this time the Manchester court would become Richmond's second courthouse and serve as Richmond's Hustings Court, Part II. In 1910 the courthouse shared the square, renamed Washington Square, with the fire department, the market house and a private residence. The knitting works had been removed. According to a 1919 Sanborn map, the courthouse had by then become the sole occupant of Washington Square.
In 1923 the first addition was built, extending the rectangle of the original 1871 building. The west elevation created by this addition echoed the Doric portico of the north facade. This new entrance increased the size and grandeur of the courthouse and continued the style of the 1871 courthouse. Accommodations were made inside this building to house the city tax collector's office, the state tax collector's office, the office of the commissioner of revenue, and a hunting and marriage licenses office. An addition in 1940 made an extension on the east side, expanding the size of the clerk's office. A jail cell was built in the basement in 1948. Renovations were made to the west vestibule in 1953, reducing its width.

In 1969 the third and final addition to the courthouse was built. Like the 1923 section, the 1969 addition greatly increased the courthouse's volume. Its architect was Edwin H. King, an architect in the Richmond firm of Lee, King and Poole. This section provided for two new courtrooms, one for the Hustings court and one for the Police court. In 1976 the last tax office remaining, that of the city tax collector’s office, was relocated to the current police precinct office on Hull Street. It would return in 1990 and stay until 1996 when it was moved to Richmond city hall." Currently the courthouse serves only judicial functions and is home to one district court and two circuit courts.