Rose Hill
Why it's listed
Rose Hill is a large two-story frame house on US 401 just south of Louisburg in Franklin County, North Carolina. Lark Fox built the original five-bay main block about 1803 as the center of a plantation that grew to more than 1,300 acres. Its Flemish bond brick chimneys and molded woodwork reflect a transition between Georgian and Federal styles. Later owners reshaped the house in stages: a rear ell expansion about 1840, a Queen Anne-style wraparound verandah about 1880, and a Neoclassical portico, balcony and new staircase about 1910. The Yarborough family owned the property from 1830 to 1877, and the Timberlake family then lived and farmed there into the late twentieth century. Outbuildings include a kitchen and slave quarter from about 1840, plus a playhouse and generator house from about 1910. The house was listed for its architecture, since its layered construction phases show changing styles and domestic life across more than a century. A 2005 tree fall damaged the porch, which is being rebuilt.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues Rose Hill is one of Franklin County's architecturally significant early nineteenth-century plantation houses. Its transitional Georgian-Federal main block was altered about 1840, 1880 and 1910, with each phase reflecting changing tastes. It retains a high degree of integrity and a set of outbuildings showing nearly two centuries of occupancy.
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 06000339, listed May 3, 2006. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | W side of US 401 S, 0.25 mi. N of NC 1110, Louisburg |
|---|---|
| County | Franklin County |
| Listed | May 3, 2006 |
| Reference number | 06000339 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca. 1803-ca. 1910 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Transitional Georgian-Federal; Queen Anne; Colonial Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Structurally sound but cosmetically deteriorated; the front porch was largely destroyed by a fallen tree in 2005 and is being reconstructed, and the current owners are restoring the house and outbuildings. |
| Acreage | 9 |
| Coordinates | 36.07098, -78.33147 (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 06000339.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q18711645
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.