Mason-Tillett House
Also known as: Rock Hill; VDHR No. 012-0093
Why it's listed
Rock Hill, also called the Mason-Tillett House, is a two-story frame dwelling near Valentines in southern Brunswick County, Virginia. Its main block dates to the late 18th century, and a one-and-a-half-story rear wing was added about 1832. The plan is unusual: two side-by-side front doors each open into a separate first-floor room, and the stair was later extended down into the new rear hall. Inside, the house keeps remarkable painted decoration, including false wood graining and marbleizing on mantels, wainscot and door panels. The property is also tied to Methodist history. Bishop Francis Asbury's journal places the first session of the Virginia Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church at a Mason home here in 1785, where delegates argued over opposition to slavery. The land has remained in the same family since the 18th century. The house was recognized for its religious associations and its architecture.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is an important late 18th-century dwelling with exceptional surviving grained and marbleized woodwork and an unusual plan, including side-by-side front doors. It is also the probable site of the 1785 first session of the Virginia Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, where slavery was hotly debated.
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 03001443, listed January 16, 2004. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1050 Christanna Highway, Valentines |
|---|---|
| County | Brunswick County |
| Listed | January 16, 2004 |
| Reference number | 03001443 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | Ca. 1780-1953 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Early Republic, Federal |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Religion |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as a single dwelling, with a noncontributing garage about 100 feet northwest; ownership has stayed in the same family since the 18th century. |
| Acreage | 4.4 |
| Coordinates | 36.56093, -77.80322 (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 03001443.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14712799
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.