PWC - Brentsville Courthouse Historic Centre

Brentsville Courthouse Historic Centre
12229 Bristow Rd.
Bristow, VA 20136
703-365-7895

Brentsville Courthouse outside Brentsville Cabin with people Brentsville schoolhouse

Brentsville jail

Brentsville Union Church

The Town of Brentsville was established on 50 acres in 1820 to become the county seat of Prince William County. A county seat is the location of the county courthouse and government. By 1820, many residents had moved farther west for better farm land, the old county seat of Dumfries was too far east for the western residents to travel conveniently. The new town of Brentsville was centrally located in Prince William County along the major east/west road that led from the port of Dumfries to the Shenandoah Valley. In 1893, the county seat moved to Manassas and Brentsville became a rural community which allowed it to retain much of its 19^th century character.

Brentsville cabin The Brentsville site consists of 28 acres with five historic buildings and various archaeological sites. These include the 1822 Courthouse and Jail, the ca. 1830 John Hall Home, ca. 1875 Union Church and the 1928 One Room Schoolhouse and the Brentsville Tavern archaeological site. The site also includes a mile long nature trail highlighting the area’s natural resources. The history has been captured on an informational sign at Brentsville.

Brentsville Courthouse Historic Centre interprets the history of Brentsville and Prince William County through three centuries. Currently the Courthouse, Union Church and Haislip/Hall farmhouse have been restored. Work is underway for the restoration on the Jail and development of a Visitor Center and museum. The grounds and Union Church are also available for rentals. Once completed, the site will give visitors a unique look into the history of not just Prince William County but Northern Virginia.

The site is open to the public from sunrise to sunset every day. A self guided interpretative trail and a picnic area are available. Tours are offered on weekends from May 1 through Labor Day from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., or by appointment.

Did you know that our jail may be haunted? Be sure to watch the special Ghost Hunters episode on the Sci Fi channel this summer! (Check this page for the date; we will let you know once we hear.) But ghosts are not the only thing plaguing our jail, the years have taken a toll on the building. Learn about our efforts to restore this wonderful jail dating back to 1822 and what you can do to help!

Join us on the Civil War Tour in August 2009 to learn about events and battles that occured here in Prince William County. Visit our calendar of events regularly to learn more about upcoming programs and events. For more information, contact:

Brentsville Courthouse Historic Centre
12229 Bristow Rd.
Bristow, VA 20136
703-365-7895

historicpreservation@pwcgov.org

Directions to Brentsville Courthouse Historic Centre:

From Interstate 95: Take Rt. 234 North (Exit 152B); travel 7 miles and make a left onto Rt. 619 (Bristow Rd.) Brentsville is 6 miles on the right.

From Interstate 66: Take Rt. 234 South (Exit 44); travel 4.5 miles and turn right onto Rt. 28 south (Nokesville Rd.). Travel 1.5 miles and make a left onto Rt. 619 (Bristow Rd.); Brentsville is 4 miles on the left.


Brentsville Courthouse Historic Centre is part of the Virginia Civil War Trails program.	Brentsville courthouse was named a part of the National Underground Railroad in 2008. Learn more about the connection between Brentsville and the Underground Railroad.

Brentsville Civil War History

Brentsville was the Prince William County seat during the Civil War. In response to John Brown’s raid on Harper’s Ferry in 1859, the Prince William Cavalry (Co. A, Virginia Cavalry) was formed here on the courthouse lawn in January 1860. The ladies of Brentsville made a flag and presented it to the company. Other Confederate units from Prince William County, such as Ewell Guards (Co. A. 49^th Virginia Infantry), were organized and drilled here.

Like many Virginian towns, Brentsville suffered heavily at the hands of both armies. Confederate Gen. Eppa Hunton, a Brentsville resident and lawyers, had his house and other buildings destroyed. The Hampton Legion, among other units, was posted here on scouting missions, and several homes and churches served as hospitals. The county clerk’s office was torn down and its bricks used for camp chimneys. Part of the ca. 1822 courthouse roof was torn off, and many county records were either destroyed or taken by soldiers as souvenirs. Capt. Andrew McHenry of the 13^th Pennsylvania Infantry wrote of Brentsville in 1864, “the houses generally are in ruin.”

The Battle of Bristoe Station, fought three miles west on Oct. 14, 1863, brought combat to Brentsville’s doorstep. During the battle, Federal Gen. John Buford’s cavalry was posted here to protect the Federal supply train. Confederate partisan units operate in Brentsville until the end of the war.

Brentsville Timeline

1686 Brent Town Grant made by King James II to Brent family, including present location of Brentsville
1737 land was first surveyed
1779 Commonwealth of Virginia confiscates the land from the Bristow family due to their British loyalties
1779-1820 Land was rented by the Commonwealth for farming and timber
1820 Town of Brentsville established by the Virginia General Assembly as the new Prince William County seat
1822 Brentsville courthouse, jail, clerk of court’s office and tavern completed
1835 William Hyden, a freed black, is falsely arrested as a runaway slave; attempts to sell him into slavery unsuccessful; escapes from Brentsville in 1836.
1853 Samuel Haislip built a new farmhouse off of Vint Hill Road, now located on Brentsville site
1860 (Winter) Prince William Cavalry formed at Brentsville in response to the John Brown raids in Harper’s Ferry
1861 (April 1) Prince William County magistrates vote to endorse Virginia’s secession
1861 (May 23) Citizens of Virginia vote to secede from the United States. Several Prince William County regiments formed.
1862 (March 3) Last day of court in Prince William County until end of war
1863 (Oct. 14) Battle of Bristoe Station, Union troops occupy Brentsville
1870 (Oct. 17) First County Board of Supervisors meeting in courthouse with five supervisors
1874 Brentsville Union Church completed
1893 County seat moved to Manassas
1928 Brentsville one room schoolhouse built for grades 1-5, school was previously held in the courthouse
1928-1960s Courthouse and schoolhouse used as community recreational space
1970 Prince William Park Authority takes possession of park and buildings
2004 Prince William County Historic Preservation Division assumes management of site
2006 Courthouse and Union Church restored
2008 Haislip/Hall house restored

Click here for information on the Brentsville Historic Centre Trust.