Wharton Place
Why it's listed
Wharton Place is a two-story Federal house of Flemish bond brick standing at the end of a neck on the ocean side of Virginia's Eastern Shore, with fields, pine woods and the marshes of Assawoman Creek around it. John Wharton (1762-1811), a maritime merchant, built it within a few years after buying the surrounding tract in 1798, and he ran his business interests from the house and kept a ship landing on the creek. The house has a deck-on-hip roof, a bracketed cornice, marble arches over every window, and matching east and west doorways with pediments and unusual tracery. Inside, four mantels are decorated with composition ornaments by Robert Wellford of Philadelphia, and two bear his signature. Few Virginia houses of this quality survive with so little alteration. A renovation begun in 1945 restored the original sashes, removed a Victorian porch and reproduced the original paint colors.
Significance in brief: The house is ranked among the most architecturally sophisticated Federal houses in Virginia, with lavish marble trim and rich interior woodwork and plaster. Its four mantels carry composition ornaments by Robert Wellford of Philadelphia, two of them signed, which helps identify his work elsewhere. It also survives in a high state of preservation with little alteration.
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 72001378, listed November 3, 1972. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 0.7 mi. NE of jct. of VA 762 and 679, Mappsville |
|---|---|
| County | Accomack County |
| Listed | November 3, 1972 |
| Reference number | 72001378 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century |
| Architect / builder | John Wharton (builder); mantel ornaments by Robert Wellford of Philadelphia |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition listed as excellent and unaltered, on its original site; in use as a private residence. Carefully renovated beginning in 1945. |
| Acreage | 160 |
| Coordinates | 37.84927, -75.53375 (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 72001378.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14692485
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.