iately adjacent to it.
This style of courthouse may be found through Virginia, dating from
earliest colonial times; and, although many fine courthouses are found
in the early architecture of Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania and
North Carolina, none of these areas developed the design concept of a
courthouse compound.

This design concept was used in the courthouses of Fairfax County at
Springfield (1742-1752) and Alexandria (1752-1800); and it was
followed in the county's third courthouse which was completed in 1800.
The courthouse tract was situated near the geographical center of the
County, at the intersection of the Little River Turnpike and the old
Colchester Road. The tract consisted of four acres, acquired by a deed
from Richard Ratcliffe and his wife Serian. Specified in the deed were
structures including a courthouse, clerk's office and goal, "... and
every other building and Machine necessary ..."--the latter presumably
referring to gallows, pillory, stocks, and the like. The May 1798
Fairfax County Court Order Book did specify that the courthouse should
be forty-by-thirty feet with a twelve-foot portico, the gaol
forty-by-twenty, the clerk's office twenty-by-eighteen and covered
with slate or tile, a gaoler's house twenty-four-by-eighteen feet, and
that stocks, pillory and whipping post also be provided by letting the
entire "... building of the same to the lowest bidder."[127]

In accordance with statutory requirements, space was delineated for
the prison bounds. This was done in March 1800, and the area was
described in a survey and report of the commissioners, as
follows:[128]

In obedience to the order of the worshipful Court of this County,
hereunto annexed, we the subscribers in company with Col. William
Payne, the Surveyor of this County, proceeded this thirteenth day
of March Eighteen Hundred, to lay off ten acres of ground for the
prison rules of this County, and have ascertained and bounded the
same by the following meets and boundaries, ... including the said
four acres, the Court house, Gaol, Clerk's office, the brick
Tavern, Kitchen, Stables and store house, and beg leave to report
the same with the plat thereof hereunto also annexed.--Given unto
our hands and seals:

Thomas Gunnell (Seal)
N. Fitzhugh (Seal)