Winton
Why it's listed
Winton is a late-Georgian, two-story frame house on Route 151 near Clifford in Amherst County, Virginia. It is said to have been built in the early 1770s by Colonel Joseph Cabell, a legislator and militia officer who commanded troops at Yorktown. In 1779 he sold it to Colonel Samuel Meredith, Jr., a friend and brother-in-law of Patrick Henry. Henry's mother, Sarah Winston Syme Henry, came to live here and died in 1784; her grave lies in the family graveyard with Meredith and his wife. Inside, the south first-floor room has elaborate punch-and-gouge woodwork, traditionally attributed to Hessian prisoners. The house has a pedimented entrance, T-shaped brick chimneys, a later portico and a surviving frame smokehouse. After passing through several owners, it was bought in 1967 by a donor and given to Amherst County, which leases it as a country club. A rear addition was built to serve the club.
Significance in brief: The house was the home of several noteworthy Virginians, including Colonel Joseph Cabell and Colonel Samuel Meredith, Jr., and was the last home of Patrick Henry's mother, Sarah Winston Syme Henry, who is buried there. It also has notable architecture, including elaborate punch-and-gouge woodwork said to have been carved by Hessian prisoners.
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 74002104, listed May 2, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | W of VA 151, Clifford |
|---|---|
| County | Amherst County |
| Listed | May 2, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74002104 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 18th Century; early 1770's |
| Architect / builder | Said to have been built by Colonel Joseph Cabell |
| Architectural style | Late Georgian (with Georgian Revival entablature) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in excellent condition and altered, with additions made to the rear. It is leased to a country club and golf course, and the grounds include a cemetery. |
| Acreage | 288.7 |
| Coordinates | 37.64011, -79.02755 (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 74002104.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q8026604
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.