South Britain Historic District in Southbury, Connecticut

Southbury, Connecticut

Southbury is a town located in western New Haven County, Connecticut, USA. Southbury is located north of Oxford and Newtown; it also is east of Brookfield. Southbury's population was 18,567 at the 2000 census....

, USA, is a historic district

Historic district (United States)

In the United States, a historic district is a group of buildings, properties, or sites that have been designated by one of several entities on different levels as historically or architecturally significant. Buildings, structures, objects and sites within a historic district are normally divided...

 that was listed on the National Register of Historic Places

National Register of Historic Places

The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...

 in 1987. It represents the central portion of South Britain, an unincorporated village. The district is bordered by the Pomperaug River

Pomperaug River

The Pomperaug River is a river in the US state of Connecticut. The two main tributaries to the Pomperaug are the Nonnewaug River and the Weekeepeemee River. It is at the confluence of these two rivers in Woodbury that the Pomperaug forms...

 on the west. Water-powered mills, supplied by water from a South Britain Water Power Company reservoir, were the impetus for early development.

The village rivalled nearby Southbury Center. It was seat of Southbury, Connecticut

Southbury, Connecticut

Southbury is a town located in western New Haven County, Connecticut, USA. Southbury is located north of Oxford and Newtown; it also is east of Brookfield. Southbury's population was 18,567 at the 2000 census....

 town government until 1964.

In 1987, the district included 46 contributing structures and 22 non-contributing ones.

Contributing properties in the district include:

• B.C. Bradley House, 497 South Britain Road, from 1802 or earlier by assessor records, with cottage and shed of similar age

• H. Curtis House, 584-586 South Britain Road, of Colonial era, probably the oldest house in the district.

• Miss H. E. and S. E. Canfield House, 524 South Britain Road, a Georgian style
  Georgian architecture
  Georgian architecture is the name given in most English-speaking countries to the set of architectural styles current between 1720 and 1840. It is eponymous for the first four British monarchs of the House of Hanover—George I of Great Britain, George II of Great Britain, George III of the United...
  
   twin-chimney central-hall house "with Adamesque detail in its portico and cornice" from 1802 or earlier (see accompanying photo 2)

• George Smith House, 605 South Britain Road, a Greek Revival
  Greek Revival architecture
  The Greek Revival was an architectural movement of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, predominantly in Northern Europe and the United States. A product of Hellenism, it may be looked upon as the last phase in the development of Neoclassical architecture...
  
   house, c. 1835, with cabin and garage from mid 1900s

• Mrs. S. Curtis House, 657 South Britain Road, a brick Greek Revival
  Greek Revival architecture
  The Greek Revival was an architectural movement of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, predominantly in Northern Europe and the United States. A product of Hellenism, it may be looked upon as the last phase in the development of Neoclassical architecture...
  
   with granite dressing, from 1770 by assessor records

• Mrs. B. Chatfield House, 24 Hawkins Road, a brick Greek Revival
  Greek Revival architecture
  The Greek Revival was an architectural movement of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, predominantly in Northern Europe and the United States. A product of Hellenism, it may be looked upon as the last phase in the development of Neoclassical architecture...
  
  , from 1850 (see photo 12)

• Congregational Church, 683 South Britain Road, from 1825. Federal style with later Gothic window. (See photo 15)

• Methodist Church, "an austere example of the Greek Revival style", from 1832, in deteriorated condition in 1986. (See photos 15 and 18)

• Town Hall, an 1873-built Italianate style building (see photo 10)

Also included in the district is a steel-span bridge from 1939.