Woodbourne
Why it's listed
Woodbourne is a frame house near Roxobel in Bertie County, North Carolina, built about 1810 by Thomas Figuers Norfleet, reportedly for his bride, Margaret. One-story wings were added in 1819, and two chimneys carry incised initials and that year. The two-story central pavilion has a pediment, modillion cornice and fanlight, and sits on a vented English bond foundation. Inside, the floor plan is irregular, with an enclosed stair and a parlor distinguished by an Adamesque mantel with reeding and cable molding. Each mantel in the house has its own decoration. A dairy building with a sawn wooden grill under its eaves also stands on the property. The house matters because it merges two popular early nineteenth century North Carolina forms: the temple-form dwelling and the three-part Morris-plan house. Local builders familiar with classical ideas adapted both models into a new form, making it a distinctive vernacular example of Classic Revival taste. It has remained in the Norfleet family since it was built.
Significance in brief: The house combines two popular North Carolina house types of the early nineteenth century, the temple-form dwelling and the three-part "Morris-plan" scheme. The central pavilion is in effect a temple-form house flanked by lower wings. The nomination calls it an inventive vernacular adaptation and an interesting sidelight to the Classic Revival movement in the South.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 71000568, listed August 26, 1971. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | W of Roxobel on SR 1139, Roxobel |
|---|---|
| County | Bertie County |
| Listed | August 26, 1971 |
| Reference number | 71000568 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century |
| Architect / builder | Thomas Figuers Norfleet (builder, said to have built it for his bride, Margaret) |
| Architectural style | Classic Revival vernacular; combination of temple-form and three-part (Morris-plan) types |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in excellent condition, altered, on its original site; used as a private residence and occupied by the owner's family. |
| Acreage | 4 |
| Coordinates | 36.18765, -77.26469 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 71000568.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q18159334
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.