{"nrhp_refnum":"94000791","name":"Townfield","other_names":["Robert Gilchrist House","VDHR File No. 284-15","See Also:Port Ro"],"category":"building","location":{"address":"Water St.","address_restricted":false,"city":"Port Royal","county":"Caroline County","state":"VA","lat":38.17009413300008,"lon":-77.18801604699996,"geom_source":"nps_gis"},"listed_date":"1994-07-29","is_nhl":false,"nhl_designated_date":null,"areas_of_significance":["Politics/Government","Architecture"],"significance_levels":["local"],"summary":{"what_it_is":"Townfield is a weatherboarded frame dwelling on Water Street at the edge of Port Royal, Caroline County, Virginia, overlooking the Rappahannock River. The original Georgian block dates from about 1740-1747, and Federal-style additions followed in 1823 and 1857.","why_significant":"The house is presented as a good example of an evolutionary house, showing changing building styles from high-style Georgian to Federal with some Greek Revival touches. It is also tied to Robert Gilchrist, its first owner, a merchant, shipowner, county official, and co-founder of the Kilwinning Port Royal Crosse Lodge, the second Masonic lodge in Virginia.","narrative":"Townfield is a frame dwelling at the edge of Port Royal, Virginia, facing the Rappahannock River. Its original core is a one-and-one-half-story Georgian central-passage house, probably built between 1740 and 1747 for Robert Gilchrist. Gilchrist was a wealthy merchant and shipowner who served as Caroline County justice of the peace, sheriff, and delegate, and who helped secure the 1755 charter for the Kilwinning Port Royal Crosse Lodge, the second Masonic lodge in Virginia. The house grew over time. In 1823 Philip Lightfoot added a dining room and a projecting pavilion, and a two-story Federal wing followed, dated 1857 in the description. Details blend Georgian and Federal elements, with some Greek Revival touches. The parlor retains an elaborate overmantel and cornice. The property also includes a family cemetery with at least five graves, the site of servants' quarters, and a small shed. Recent renovation reused original materials, and the house keeps its original woodwork and floorboards.","period_of_significance":"c. 1740-1857","architect_builder":"unknown","architectural_style":"Colonial: Georgian; Early Republic: Federal","criteria":["B","C"],"status_note":"The house is in current use as a single dwelling and is described as in good condition after recent renovation, though deterioration continues in the foundation, weatherboards, and roof.","vacant_flag":false,"machine_generated":true,"model":"claude-sonnet-5-5","prompt_version":"v1.0-2026-10-29","generated_at":"2026-10-29 02:51:59.45171-05","source_pdf":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/opastorage/live/71/6799/41679971/content/electronic-records/rg-079/NPS_VA/94000791.pdf"},"photo":{"url_800":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/94000791/2366ead755-800.webp","url_1600":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/94000791/2366ead755-1600.webp","licence":"Public domain","author":"Pubdog","credit_html":"<a href=\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Townfield_Port_Royal_VA_Oct_12.jpg\" rel=\"noopener\">Pubdog</a>, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons","source_page":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Townfield_Port_Royal_VA_Oct_12.jpg"},"district":null,"sources":{"nps_snapshot_date":"2026-05-22","nara_catalog":"https://catalog.archives.gov/id/41679971","wikipedia":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Townfield_(Port_Royal,_Virginia)","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q14713371"},"indexable":true,"url":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/virginia/caroline-county/townfield-94000791/"}