Fletcher-Skinner-Nixon House and Outbuildings
Also known as: Swampside
Why it's listed
Set in the Old Neck farming area near Hertford, this ca. 1820 plantation complex centers on a two-story Federal-style frame house with beaded weatherboards, paired exterior end chimneys and a double-tier piazza across the front. Inside, a center-hall plan holds a straight stair and parlor woodwork with reeding, drillwork and sunburst details that the form ranks among the finest in Perquimans County. Surrounding the house are a rare brick dairy, a mid-nineteenth-century smokehouse, a brick well, a former cook's house and a ca. 1860 transverse barn. William Fletcher, a Quaker-descended planter who provided in his will for his slaves to be freed, probably built the house. Members of the Skinner family later owned it, and James Leigh Skinner farmed it until 1897. Tenant farming followed, and the Nixon family acquired the land in 1922. The property illustrates the shift from antebellum plantation life to tenancy and holds an early example of a regional porch form.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house and outbuildings form a remarkable cross-section of Albemarle plantation buildings from the first half of the nineteenth century. The house has an engaged double-tier piazza, one of the earliest remaining in the county, and exceptional Federal woodwork including a mantel and stair. The farm complex, with its rare brick dairy, also reflects changing ownership from Quaker and plantation society to tenant farming.
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 93001541, listed January 21, 1994. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | NC 1301 NE side, 0.45 mi. SE of jct. with NC 1300, Hertford |
|---|---|
| County | Perquimans County |
| Listed | January 21, 1994 |
| Reference number | 93001541 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca. 1820-1897 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Agriculture, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Adapted as a bed and breakfast inn in 1992, with floors and marbelized finishes restored; owned by descendants of Thomas Nixon. |
| Acreage | 5 |
| Within district | Old Neck Historic District |
| Coordinates | 36.19608, -76.42888 (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 93001541.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q19865648
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.