go to historic Ft. Bend County Jail
Location – Richmond
Built – 1908
Architect -C. H. Page & Bro.
Style – Beaux-Arts
Photographed – 12/19/11
This was probably one of our main disappointments on our Christmas-time trip to the Houston area. The courthouse has been closed. There are no signs as to why. We asked, and really didn’t get a clear idea of what was happening with the courthouse, but I have a strong feeling it is being renovated. This courthouse is a twin to the Hays County Courthouse in San Marcos. We’ve visited that one, so I guess we have a strong idea of what was inside – but, again, we were a little disappointed. There is a large modern county building next to the 1908 courthouse. And the county has created a new campus like courthouse about a mile or so from this one. I went ahead and county the 1908 building as still being the courthouse, assuming that after renovation the County Court (admin) will continue to sit in this building.
It is well worth the visit, assuming it reopens and has been renovated. The modern buildings offer nothing special – though the new one isn’t just a box. It does have some stylistic reminders it is a building that serves as the county seat and court. I’ve included a few pictures of these buildings.
The one thing that did stand out was the historic jail. It now serves as the Richmond Police HQ. Quite Victorian in style and feel.