The Archives
During most of the year, the Archives is open for visits and tours but opening hours vary depending on season and availability of summer staff for tours. During the winter months (normally November to March) the Archives is open to the public by appointment only. If in doubt please call ahead to ascertain current opening hours or check our Facebook page.
Housed in the Historic Jail, The Charlotte County Archives’ rich and varied collection reflects the diversity, experience, and achievement of Charlotte County people. Archival materials dating from the 18th to 21st centuries include hundreds of thousands of original records reflecting individuals, families, groups, and businesses contributing to the social, cultural, economic, and political life of the region.
Visitors to the archives have access to more than 25,000 photographs, from the 1850s to today, and over 170 shelf metres of correspondence, maps, diaries, architectural drawings, albums, ledgers, ships-logs, deeds, and more. Our research room includes family histories; a small library of books relevant to the history of the area; microfilmed versions of regional newspapers dating back to the 1820s, many of them indexed for births, deaths, and marriages; and other resources for researchers of all kinds.
Tours
Our hours of operation for 2023 are:
May/Oct Monday – Friday (10 am – 4 pm)
June/Sep Wednesday to Sunday (10 am – 4 pm)
July/August Sunday to Saturday (10 am – 4 pm)
Nov to April Open by appointment
Drop in tours run from May 20 to October 7. If you wish to book a tour outside of these dates, please contact us!
The Old Charlotte County Gaol was constructed in 1832 of grey granite blocks, 2.5 feet thick. The old jail is a solid square building with austere jail cells in active use until 1979. Each cell is completely closed in by granite blocks except for a very narrow iron door, creating an atmospheric tour site and doubtless a claustrophobic experience for prisoners. Additional resource material can be found via this external site link.
The Charlotte County Courthouse, a light-filled provincial and national heritage site, provides a markedly different experience from the jail. Designed by Thomas Berry and built in 1840, this classical-revival style courthouse is the best-preserved example of mid-nineteenth century Maritime Courthouses. In the early years of its history, the Courthouse was the focal point for community activities such as elections, fairs, parades, and official visits. It was the oldest courthouse in continuous use until 2017.