Brick House
Also known as: King David's Palace; 005-0002
Why it's listed
Built around 1803 in the village then called New Glasgow, now Clifford, this large Federal style brick house was the home of David Shepherd Garland. Garland was an attorney, landowner, Virginia legislator and briefly a U.S. Representative. The two-story house has a seven-bay south facade laid in Flemish bond, a projecting pavilion with a lunette window, and a doorway with fluted pilasters and a fanlight. Its T-shaped plan places a shallow central hall between two parlors, with the dining room behind. Additions followed around 1830 and 1850. Local craftsmen carved the mantels, copying designs from pattern books by William Pain and others, and the dining room mantel is the most elaborate. Sited prominently at the main crossroads, the house was nicknamed King David's Palace in reference to its owner's wealth and standing. It left Garland family hands in 1846. Its original floors, plaster, woodwork and glass largely survive, and it remains a private residence.
Significance in brief: The house is significant under Criterion B for its link to David Shepherd Garland, a large landowner, attorney, state legislator and U.S. Representative who helped shape the village. It is significant under Criterion C as an excellent example of Federal architecture interpreted by local craftsmen, with mantels copied from English pattern books. It was also one of few brick buildings in a town of mostly wooden structures.
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 05001620, listed February 1, 2006. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 854 Fletcher's Level Rd., Clifford |
|---|---|
| County | Amherst County |
| Listed | February 1, 2006 |
| Reference number | 05001620 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1803-1846 |
| Architect / builder | unknown |
| Architectural style | Early Republic/Federal |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in use as a single dwelling; retains most original materials and plan, with two historic 19th-century additions. No outbuildings survive. |
| Acreage | 8 |
| Coordinates | 37.64568, -79.02118 (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 05001620.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4965913
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.