Bannerman House
Why it's listed
Bannerman House is a two-story frame plantation house near Burgaw in Pender County, North Carolina, built probably about 1840 by planter John Player Bannerman. Its Greek Revival design takes an unusual equilateral L-shaped form, with two identical five-bay facades. Each is centered on a pedimented portico with colossal flat-paneled pillars and a second-level balcony with a sheaf-of-wheat balustrade. Inside, a center-hall plan serves each arm of the L, with an open-string Federal-style stair and plain flat-paneled woodwork. Bannerman acquired about 2,000 acres in the Holly Shelter area in 1835 and built up a sizeable settlement that included a crossroads, a school, a post office and a bridge bearing his name. The house later passed through timber and paper company ownership and then to the state before a private buyer moved it about half a mile in 1966 and began restoration. It is considered the finest surviving antebellum building in the county.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it a notable vernacular Greek Revival plantation house of ambitious scale and consistent, well-executed detail. Its L-shaped plan with twin facades and full-height porticos is described as particularly remarkable. It is believed to be the finest of the few remaining antebellum buildings in Pender County, and its essentially unaltered condition adds to its importance.
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 74001365, listed May 31, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | NE of Burgaw off NC 53 on SR 1520, Burgaw |
|---|---|
| County | Pender County |
| Listed | May 31, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74001365 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th century; specific date ca. 1840 |
| Architect / builder | John Player Bannerman (builder) |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in good condition, unaltered, and under restoration; the form marks it as a private residence and notes that preservation work is in progress. |
| Acreage | 9 |
| Coordinates | 34.60215, -77.79024 (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 74001365.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q19600338
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.