Clifford-New Glasgow Historic District
Also known as: VDHR No. 005-5042
The pin is a point inside the NPS boundary polygon, not a surveyed location.
Why it's listed
Clifford-New Glasgow is a linear village in northern Amherst County, between the Tye and Buffalo Rivers, that began as a stage stop on the route between Charlottesville and Lynchburg. Its roughly 30 principal buildings span from the late eighteenth century to the late twentieth century and include Georgian and Federal landmarks such as Winton and Brick House, St. Mark's Episcopal Church, the 1814 Saddlery, and a 1938 Craftsman-style school. Later Craftsman bungalows, Colonial Revival and Ranch houses show the village's growth. The settlement prospered before 1850, declined after the railroad bypassed it and through the Civil War and Reconstruction, and revived with automobile traffic on U.S. Route 29. The realignment of that highway after 1961 ended its commercial role and left a residential hamlet. The district is also notable for its African American families, who built much of the early twentieth-century housing and the 1960 St. Peter's Baptist Church.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents Clifford-New Glasgow as one of Amherst County's oldest settlements, a former stagecoach stop and commercial center that rose, declined and revived with changes in transportation. It is significant for architecture, commerce and settlement, and also for its African American community history. The period of significance runs ca. 1772 to 1961, ending when U.S. Route 29 was realigned and the village became residential.
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 12000122, listed March 12, 2012. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Patrick Henry Hwy. & Fletchers Level Rd., Clifford |
|---|---|
| County | Amherst County |
| Listed | March 12, 2012 |
| Reference number | 12000122 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | ca. 1772-1961 |
| Architectural style | Georgian, Federal, Colonial Revival, Bungalow/Craftsman, and Vernacular |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Exploration/Settlement, Commerce |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Today a residential hamlet with a country club, community center and several churches; the Saddlery is described as presently unoccupied. |
| Acreage | 176 |
| Coordinates | 37.63468, -79.01882 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 12000122.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q15733817
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.