Old Brick House
.JPG){kind=link}
Why it's listed
Set in a clearing among large cypress trees on the Pasquotank River, the Old Brick House is a one-and-one-half-story dwelling on a raised brick basement. Despite its name, the front and rear walls are covered with beaded weatherboards, while the gable ends are laid in Flemish bond with glazed headers. It is thought to have been built around the middle of the eighteenth century by Robert Murden, an early Albemarle settler, who served as a justice and a member of the North Carolina House of Commons. Local tradition credits the pirate Blackbeard, but the house appears to date from well after his death. Its importance lies in its architecture. It is apparently the oldest existing structure in Pasquotank County and one of the few brick-end buildings in North Carolina. Its original paneled interiors were sold in the twentieth century, and the house now holds paneling and mantels gathered from nearby eighteenth-century homes.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is significant for its architectural characteristics, not for the legend linking it to the pirate Blackbeard. It is apparently the oldest existing structure in Pasquotank County and one of the few brick-end buildings in the state. Like the Cupola House in Edenton, it shows old English house forms found in Virginia and was likely considered a mansion in its region.
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 72000983, listed March 16, 1972. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 182 Brick House Lane, Elizabeth City |
|---|---|
| County | Pasquotank County |
| Listed | March 16, 1972 |
| Reference number | 72000983 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 18th Century |
| Architect / builder | Robert Murden (Munden), thought to be the builder |
| Architectural style | Retardataire seventeenth-century English house forms; brick-end building with Flemish bond gable ends |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition is marked excellent; the house is occupied as a private residence. The windows have been restored and the porch is a reconstruction. The original paneled interiors were sold and replaced with paneling and mantels from nearby eighteenth-century houses. |
| Acreage | 1.5 |
| Coordinates | 36.33348, -76.22077 (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 72000983.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q23128675
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.