Behind the Wellington County Courthouse

This building is located behind The Wellington County Courthouse which is located at 74 Woolwich Street and is the oldest surviving public stone building in Wellington County and was built between 1841 and 1843.

The photo above really caught my eye as the doors have no steps to them. This building is beside the old jail behind the current courthouse.

When Guelph became the County Town in 1837, it assumed responsibilities for the administration of justice in the County. Having no courthouse or jail, the City turned its attention to building appropriate facilities. In the interim, Guelph dispensed justice from rooms rented in local hotels, such as the Suffolk Hotel and the Red Lion Inn! The jailhouse was built first in 1839, by William Day, with James Lindsay being the first person confined (for cattle stealing). The contract to build the courthouse was given to local builders William and David Allan who used designs probably provided by Toronto architect Thomas Young.
From the GPL Archives