South Britain Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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South Britain Historic District
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The Congregational church
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | E. Flat Hill, Hawkins, Library, and Middle Rds., and 497-864 S. Britain Rd., Southbury, Connecticut |
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| Area | 70 acres (28 ha) |
| Architect | Clark, Zephania; Monumental Bronze Co. |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival, Federal, Colonial |
| NRHP reference No. | 87000125 |
| Added to NRHP | February 12, 1987 |
The South Britain Historic District is a special area in the village of South Britain in Southbury, Connecticut. This district protects the old buildings and history of the village. South Britain started in the 1700s as a busy place for factories and businesses. It used the power of the Pomperaug River to run its mills. For a while, it was almost as important as the main town of Southbury! This historic district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1987.
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What Makes South Britain Special?
South Britain is located right in the middle of Southbury. It stretches along Connecticut Route 172 (South Britain Avenue), especially north of where it crosses the Pomperaug River. Near the river, there's a dam that has been there for hundreds of years, since the 1700s. You can still see parts of old mill buildings along the riverbanks. There's even a canal from the 1800s that used to carry water to power more factories.
The heart of the village today has many different buildings. You'll find shops, community buildings, and homes. The historic area goes up to the cemetery north of East Flat Hill Road. At the corner of Flat Hill Road, there are two old churches from the 1800s. One is the South Britain Congregational Church, built in 1825 in the Federal style. The other is the Methodist Church from 1832, which is in the Greek Revival style and is not used anymore.
How Did South Britain Grow?
In its early days, South Britain was a hub for different kinds of mills. There were fulling mills (which cleaned and thickened wool), grist mills (which ground grain into flour), and lumber mills (which cut wood). These mills helped the farms and people living nearby.
Later, in the 1800s, more types of factories opened, powered by the river. These included places that made textiles (cloth). Because South Britain was so important for business, it shared community duties with the main town center. This is why the beautiful Italianate style town hall was built here in 1873. This time was the peak of South Britain's importance. After that, the mills slowly became less active. The town hall was used as the local government building until 1964.
Important Buildings in the District
The South Britain Historic District includes many old and interesting buildings. Each one tells a part of the village's story. Here are some of the notable ones:
- B.C. Bradley House: Located at 497 South Britain Road, this house dates back to 1802 or even earlier. It also has a small cottage and shed from around the same time.
- H. Curtis House: Found at 584-586 South Britain Road, this is likely the oldest house in the district. It's from the Colonial era.
- Miss H. E. and S. E. Canfield House: At 524 South Britain Road, this house was built in 1802 or earlier. It's in the Georgian style with two chimneys and a central hallway. It has fancy details around its front porch and roofline.
- George Smith House: This Greek Revival style house at 605 South Britain Road was built around 1835. It also has a cabin and garage from the mid-1900s.
- Benjamin Downs House: Located at 657 South Britain Road, this brick house is in the Greek Revival style with marble decorations. Records show it might be from 1770.
- Mrs. B. Chatfield House: This brick Greek Revival house at 24 Hawkins Road was built in 1850.
- Congregational Church: Standing at 683 South Britain Road, this church was built in 1825. It's in the Federal style but later had a Gothic window added.
- Methodist Church: Built in 1832, this church is a simple example of the Greek Revival style. In 1986, it was not in good condition and is no longer used.
- Town Hall: This important building was constructed in 1873 and is a great example of the Italianate style.
- Mitchell Double House: At 545-547 South Britain Road, this house was built in 1752. It has some Federal-style features, like its entryway, that were likely added later. It was built by Zephania Clark. There used to be a grist mill on this property around 1796.
The district also includes a steel bridge built in 1939.
Images for kids
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The Congregational Church in South Britain
