Reedy Rill
Why it's listed
Reedy Rill is a two-story frame plantation house south of Warrenton, reached by a long wooded lane and set among large trees at the end of a boxwood walk. Its first section was built between 1830 and 1846 for Daniel Turner, a West Point graduate, North Carolina legislator and congressman who married a daughter of Francis Scott Key. Family tradition says the house was enlarged and remodeled in the 1850s for Richard B. Robinson, with the work credited to Warrenton builder Jacob Holt. The exterior shows an Italianate character, with paired arched windows, heavy brackets and a wide transomed entrance. Inside, Greek Revival and Italianate trim frames the rooms. The house is most notable for its marbleized hall walls, marbleized stair risers and skillful woodgraining on doors and trim, which survive in unusually good condition. Later owners included the Searls and Twitty families, and the house remains a private residence kept in good condition.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it a handsome Italianate plantation house, one of a group of closely related houses built or remodeled by Warrenton contractor Jacob Holt, typical of Warrenton's antebellum boom. It is especially noted for the rare survival of marbleized walls and woodwork and woodgrained woodwork in unusually good condition. It is also tied to Daniel Turner, a congressman and son-in-law of Francis Scott Key.
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 74001385, listed December 3, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | S of Warrenton off SR 1600, Warrenton |
|---|---|
| County | Warren County |
| Listed | December 3, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74001385 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1850s |
| Architect / builder | Jacob Holt, Warrenton contractor/builder (attributed) |
| Architectural style | Italianate, with Greek Revival and Italianate interior motifs |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as maintained in good condition by the present owners; used as a private residence. |
| Acreage | 9 |
| Coordinates | 36.34673, -78.15766 (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 74001385.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q23073818
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.