Shelton Plantation House
Also known as: Hoskins House
Why it's listed
Shelton Plantation House is a two-story frame dwelling at the end of a long lane in the flat farm country near Edenton. Covered in molded weatherboards and set on a brick cellar, it follows the temple form, with a three-bay east facade, a small pedimented entrance porch and a molded cornice with undercut modillions. Inside, a lateral hall with a stair at one end leads to two large parlors. A transverse arch in the hall, with gougework garland-and-tassel ornament, is an unusual feature. The land carries earlier associations: Clement Hall, a colonial missionary, priest of St. Paul's Parish in Edenton and author of a book published in the colony, bought the property in 1755 and called the farm Shelton. The present house was probably built for Baker Hoskins, who bought the land in 1817, and his second wife, Martha Ann Skinner. It is valued as a well-preserved Federal period house with restrained finish, and it remains a private residence.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it a significant and well-preserved example of the Federal period temple-form dwellings in North Carolina, with restrained vernacular Federal finish and an unusual transverse arch in the hall. It also has historical importance through its early association with Clement Hall, a colonial missionary, priest of St. Paul's Parish in Edenton and author of the first book published in the colony by one of its own citizens.
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 74001342, listed October 29, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Off NC 32, Edenton |
|---|---|
| County | Chowan County |
| Listed | October 29, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74001342 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 18th and 19th centuries; specific dates 1750s, ca. 1820 |
| Architectural style | Federal period temple-form plantation house, with a hint of Greek Revival in the mantels |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Excellent condition, renovated after a period of neglect; altered by a recent one-story addition; occupied as a private residence. |
| Acreage | 15 |
| Coordinates | 36.08238, -76.62926 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
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 74001342.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q18357833
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.