Brunswick's Squares

Hanover Square

Brunswick's Squares

Squares were laid out along Newcastle and Norwich Streets (North-South) in a symmetrical pattern with George Street (East-West) at the center. See below for city map showing location of Squares. (Note - Originally the small Squares were called Places but at this time both the Squares and Places are referred to as Squares.)

Newcastle Street Squares
North	Machen Square	Bisected by Newcastle Street Between F and Gloucester Streets
	Jekyll Square	Bisected by Newcastle Street Between Gloucester and Monck Streets
	Queen's Square	Bisected by both Newcastle and Mansfield One quarter used for the old City Hall
Center	Hanover Square	At George Street - not bisected The only park left in original size
	King's Square	Bisected by Newcastle and Prince Streets
	Crispin Square	Bisected by Newcastle Street Between Albemarle and Dartmouth Streets
South	St. Simons Square	Bisected by Newcastle Street Between First Avenue and Dartmouth Street

Norwich Street Squares
North	Hillary Square	Bisected by Norwich Street Between F and Gloucester Streets - East half lost
	Blythe Square	Bisected by Norwich Street Between Gloucester and Monck Streets - Half relocated
	Hillsborough Square	Bisected by Mansfield Street Between Egmont and Carpenter Streets - the present site of Glynn Academy public schools
Center	Wright Square	Bisected by George Street - the northern half is currently occupied by the Glynn Junior High School.
	Halifax Square	Bisected by Prince Street. Between Egmont and Carpenter Streets
	Satilla Square	Bisected by Norwich Street Between Albemarle and Dartmouth Streets
South	Frederica Square	Bisected by Norwich Street Between Dartmouth Street and First Avenue

In 1771 when Brunswick was planned, Governor Wright was still in residence in Savannah and superintended the survey. A number of squares were laid out and expected to be cultivated as parks, probably like the beautiful squares that still exist in Savannah. Unfortunately, the city fathers from time to time have seen fit to take over some of the squares for schools and public buildings and have bisected all except Hanover with streets. Between Egmont and Carpenter Streets seven parks were laid out, four small and three larger; between Grant and Richmond, seven others of comparable sizes were planned.

Map of Brunswick Showing the Historical Square Locations
Click here for a larger map

Some Old Square Photos (click here)

Hillsborough Square, the present site of a complex of public schools, was named for the Earl of Hillsborough. He was President of the Board of Trade and Plantations, which had jurisdiction over all of the colonies. In 1768 he became Secretary of State for the Colonies and served in this capacity for some years, during which time Brunswick was planned. Hillsborough Square lies between Egmont and Carpenter Streets and is bisected by Mansfield Street. Additional land had to be purchased for some of the buildings there.

The next large one in order is Wright Square, named for Sir James Wright, the last colonial governor of Georgia. Sir James was a native of South Carolina, the son of that state’s Chief Justice, and had been for twenty - one years its Attorney General. He succeeded Governor Ellis on October 13, 1760. He was descended from the Wrights of Norfolk County, England, and his grandfather, Sir Robert Wright, was Chief Justice of the Court of the King’s Bench in the time of James II. His grandmother was the daughter of Bishop Matthew Wren, a nephew of Christopher Wren. The new governor was qualified for his task by his long residence in Carolina and his experience in colonial affairs. His legal knowledge was a great advantage and aided him in the very satisfactory administration of the government. Sir James served from 1760 until the evacuation of Savannah at the close of the Revolution. Three years of this time he spent in Halifax, Canada, while the Revolutionists were temporarily in command of Savannah. Wright Square is bisected by George Street and the northern half is currently occupied by the Glynn Middle High School.

The next large square between Egmont and Carpenter Streets is Halifax, named for the second Earl of Halifax, President of the Board of Trade from 1748 to 1765. He took an active interest in colonial development and made the Board of Trade a real department of the British Cabinet. He helped to found Halifax, Nova Scotia, which was named for him. In several ways he rendered good service to trade, especially with North America. He served in several different offices: Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, First Lord of the Admiralty, Secretary of Suite, Lord Privy Seal. He was an uncle of Lord North, the Revolutionary Prime Minister under George III. Lord Halifax had been a judge at one time in the criminal section of the courts. Possibly some readers may remember hearing their grandmother use the expression. "Oh, go to Halifax." It seems that Lord Halifax took it for granted that the prisoners were guilty until proved innocent, on the theory that if they were not guilty they wouldn’t be there. Hence, he judged them guilty and inquired into the matter afterwards. As a rule, the criminals got what was coming to them. When you wished to assign someone to proper punishment, you told him to "go to Halifax." This Square is bisected by Prince Street.

The other three large squares lie between Richmond and Grant Streets. They have obvious names: King’s, which is bisected by Prince; Hanover at George, the only park left in original size; Queen’s, bisected by both Newcastle and Mansfield. One quarter of Queen’s was used for the old City Hall, currently it is used for public services. To one side of the building is a monument to Mark Carr, an original settler, to whom was granted for a plantation the land which Brunswick now occupies. Three sections are left as small parks; one contains a monument to Oglethorpe, one a monument to Glynn County Men in World War II, and the third a monument to Major Columbus Downing, a prominent citizen and philanthropist.

Smaller parks were provided at regular intervals and named largely for the islands near Brunswick. They are located as follows: bisected by Newcastle Street are Machen Place between F and Gloucester Streets, Jekyll Place between Gloucester and Monck Streets, Crispin Place between Albemarle and Dartmouth Streets, and St. Simons Place between First Avenue and Dartmouth Street; and bisected by Norwich Streets are: Hillary Place between F and Gloucester Streets, Blythe Place between Gloucester and Monck Streets, Satilla Place between Albemarle and Dartmouth Streets, and Frederica Place between Dartmouth Street and F

Text from a Bicentennial Pamphlet published by the

Brunswick Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution in October 1975