Burgwin-Wright house repairs grounds, excavates old city jail

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) – Much needed repairs are unveiling a special piece of Wilmington history this week. The Burgwin-Wright House is excavating the old city jail that sits as its foundation.

The house dates back to the late 1700’s. What you may not know is that it sits above the old city jail.

The museum has to repair the drainage system above the jail cells this week allowing them to do some excavating of the historic site.

The museum is still open to visitors during this work, in fact they welcome people to look at the jail which is rare to see given that the house sits atop of it.

What’s exciting for us is that it’s been 20 years since a new generation of historians and Wilmingtonians who are seeing this for the first time,” said museum director Christine Lamberton adding that, “This was the first city jail of Wilmington it was built before there was a courthouse before there was a church. I mean this is one of the oldest buildings in Wilmington.”

Historians say it dates back to the 1740’s. The museum is open Tuesday to Saturday from 10 A.M. to 4 P.M. Museum officials expect the work over the old jail should last into next week.