Bayly, Edmund, House
Also known as: Hermitage
Why it's listed
Overlooking Craddock Creek on Virginia's Eastern Shore, the Hermitage is a modest colonial farmhouse built in two stages between 1769 and 1787 by Edmund Bayly. Its five-bay wood-frame core has Flemish-bonded brick ends, chevron patterns in the gables, semi-exterior chimneys and gabled dormers. After the Revolution a two-bay section was added, creating the present central-hall plan. Inside, the north parlor has an elaborate chimney piece with carved scrolls and flanking glazed cupboards, and the hall holds an open-well stair with walnut balusters. The Bayly family held the land from 1649, and Edmund Bayly's 1797 estate inventory shows a productive farm with livestock, corn, oats and flax. The house is regarded as one of the best preserved of its type in the region and as a typical example of a prosperous early Eastern Shore farm. It was abandoned for a time before being restored to its 18th-century appearance, and the setting on the creek remains largely unchanged.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues that the house has the quality and refinement of the Eastern Shore's larger colonial residences despite its modest scale. It is among the best preserved of its type in the region, with fine Georgian woodwork including a parlor chimney piece with flanking cupboards and a handsome stair. It also represents a prosperous 18th-century farm held by the Bayly family, who owned the land from 1649.
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 82004530, listed June 28, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | VA 615, Craddockville |
|---|---|
| County | Accomack County |
| Listed | June 28, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82004530 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1769-1787 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown (built by Edmund Bayly, per the statement of significance) |
| Architectural style | Georgian (rural Virginia colonial architecture, with Federal-style dining room mantel) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied private residence in excellent condition; restored to its 18th-century appearance by the 20th-century owners after having been abandoned. The former kitchen is used as a guest house. |
| Acreage | 6 |
| Coordinates | 37.57456, -75.89134 (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 82004530.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14691918
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.