Belvidere Plantation House
Also known as: Merrick-Nixon House
Why it's listed
Belvidere Plantation House is a modest gambrel-roofed frame dwelling on farmland near Topsail Sound in Pender County, North Carolina. It was probably built in the early 1800s, possibly by George Merrick, on land first granted to Jeremiah Vail, Sr. in 1728. Its lower roof slopes are faced with split weatherboarding, an unusual feature seldom found in the state, and the front porch ends have solid weatherboarded projections whose purpose is unknown. Inside, the hall and parlor combine Federal and Greek Revival woodwork, including paneled wainscoting and a Greek Revival mantel. Ownership passed from Merrick to heirs connected to the Spaight family, then to James Nixon in 1822, and the Nixon family kept the house until the mid-twentieth century. An archaeological survey suggests it may have been moved inland around 1880. The house is listed as an unusual vernacular example in a county with few surviving buildings from this period, and the farmstead may hold further archaeological evidence.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a rare North Carolina example of a gambrel-roof dwelling with weatherboarding on the lower roof slopes. It also has weatherboarded porch extensions of unknown purpose and combines Georgian, Federal and Greek Revival details in a vernacular building. The farmstead dates to a 1728 land grant and may yield information on plantation life and agriculture.
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 82003495, listed June 14, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Off SR 1565, Hampstead |
|---|---|
| County | Pender County |
| Listed | June 14, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82003495 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Vernacular, with Georgian, Federal and Greek Revival elements |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied as a private residence; the house is being leased and the surrounding land is still active farmland. |
| Acreage | 152.9 |
| Coordinates | 34.38524, -77.64751 (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 82003495.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q19600437
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.