The House Built on Wilmington's First Jail

Cape Fear Unearthed

In 1744, Wilmington's first jail was commissioned at the prominent corner of Third and Market streets in the heart of the still-growing downtown.

It was a highly visible site for the crude colonial justice system to enact an array of punishments for the entire town to watch. But in 1770, influential planter and merchant John Burgwin bought the property, on which he built a massive home right on top of the remains of the jail.

Since then, the Burgwin-Wright House, which celebrates its 250th birthday this year, has weathered two major wars, countless hurricanes and two centuries of cultural shifts to survive as one of Wilmington's last remaining colonial-era structures.

In this episode, we journey back to look at the role of the jail and Britain's influence in early Wilmington; why Burgwin built his eye-catching manor on jail cells; why his influence in the Cape Fear put him at the center of the coming revolution; and how a visit from a famous British general and a group of passionate history-loving women helped save the home from demolition.

Joining the episode to discuss these questions and more is Christine Lamberton, the director of the Burgwin-Wright House and Gardens museum.

Cape Fear Unearthed is written, edited and hosted by Hunter Ingram. Additional editing by Adam Fish.

The show is sponsored by Northchase Family Dentistry and Tidewater Heating & Air Conditioning.

Sources:

- Burgwin-Wright House history, provided by Christine Lamberton

- "The Burgwin-Wright House," Lower Cape Fear Historical Society bulletin, Feb. 1979

- "A History Lover's Guide to Wilmington & The Lower Cape Fear," by Jack Fryar Jr.

- Wilmington StarNews archives