Cherry Hill
Why it's listed
Cherry Hill is a two-story frame plantation house standing on a hill at the head of a drive in the small community of Inez, in Warren County, North Carolina. Built in the 1850s for the Alston family, it reflects the Italianate style associated with Warrenton builder Jacob Holt. The boxlike form has heavy cornerposts, a wide bracketed frieze and a hip roof, set against ornamental ogee and round arches in the windows, doors, panels and porch. Inside, a center hall with louvered doors and a graceful double stair leads to rooms with heavy moldings, Greek Revival and Gothic mantels, and marbleized and wood-grained woodwork. Original blinds, window-doors and furnishings survive. The land was known as the cherry hill place by 1838, and work on the present house began around the death of George W. Alston in 1849. Its largely unaltered condition, its place among Holt's surviving houses, and continuous ownership by Alston descendants led to its listing.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls Cherry Hill one of the best-preserved of the group of Italianate plantation houses characteristic of Jacob Holt, who built many such dwellings in Warren and Franklin counties in the 1850s. The house is essentially unaltered inside and out. It has also been owned continuously by descendants of the Alston family, one of the most prominent planter families of antebellum Warren County.
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 74001384, listed November 5, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | SE of Warrenton on NC 58, Inez |
|---|---|
| County | Warren County |
| Listed | November 5, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74001384 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1850s (19th Century) |
| Architect / builder | Jacob Holt (attributed); a builder called Waddell is mentioned in family tradition |
| Architectural style | Italianate, with Greek Revival and Gothic elements |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as excellent condition, essentially unaltered, occupied, and used as a private residence. |
| Acreage | 20 |
| Coordinates | 36.26917, -78.09471 (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 74001384.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q16961353
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.