Historical Overview
In 1838 the District of Colborne was established and Peterborough selected as the 'district town'. In June of that year the district magistrates, with the Hon. Thomas Stewart presiding, authorized the construction of a court house and jail. Joseph Scobell's plans for the buildings were accepted and the foundation stone was laid by Sir George Arthur, Lieutenant-Governor of Upper Canada on August 25, 1838. At a cost of over 7000 Lire, the court house was completed in 1840 and the jail in 1842 with stone quarried from Jackson's Park, adding to the community stuctures of notable size and design.
The Peterborough County Court House was completed to serve the Colborne District (now known as the Counties of Haliburton, Peterborough, and the City of Kawartha Lakes). In 1862, various municipal realignments resulted in the distinguished stone building becoming the headquarters for the County of Peterborough solely.
During the mid-1900's, a registry office was added to the south end of the building, and in succeeding years, the present jail was built at the rear of the Court House. Renovations in 1878 removed the original cupola which lit the courtrooms, and various renovations over the years have altered the appearance of the entrance and central section of the building. The matching stone north wing was built during 1927-1929.
Considered, architecturally, to be one of the finest court houses in Ontario, the historical significance of Peterborough County's Court house was designated by the Archaelogical and Historical Sites Board of Ontario in 1958.
Renovations during 1959-1960 resulted in the modern south wing, once occupied by the registry office, but now occupied by County offices.
