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Newfoundland & Labrador's
Registered Heritage Structures
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Greenspond Courthouse
(Greenspond)
As one of the few surviving courthouses in Bonavista Bay, the
Greenspond Courthouse's architecture and history make it unique.
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Courthouse before restoration.
© 1998 Heritage Foundation
of Newfoundland and Labrador
(29Kb)
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Built between 1900 and 1901, the building served several purposes. Its primary
function was as a courthouse where criminal and civil trials were held. The building
also housed some people, although not all of them stayed voluntarily. There were cells for
temporary imprisionment. There were also living quarters in the building
for a jailer and his family. The building was also used as a temporary morgue
when bodies were being recovered from shipwrecks.
After serving the needs of the people of Bonavista North for decades, the building was
transformed into a museum. The museum contains artifacts from the Greenspond area, as
well as from other parts of Newfoundland. Items range from those used in the courthouse to fishery
and household items.
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Courthouse after restoration.
© 1998 Heritage Foundation
of Newfoundland and Labrador
(20Kb)
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The courthouse rests on top of a hill overlooking Greenspond Harbour and Bonavista
Bay. It is the only old courthouse of its kind along the northeast coast and displays an
architectural design common in Newfoundland during the turn of the century. It is a two-storeyed
building with a mansard roof, bay windows in the front and the back. It also has a walk-in tower
on the front facade.
The Greenspond Courthouse became a Registered Heritage Structure in October 1988. It
received the Southcott Award for Restoration in
1998.
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