Chellowe
Also known as: VDHR No. 014-0017
Why it's listed
Chellowe is a plantation house and outbuilding group in eastern Buckingham County, Virginia, set in landscaped grounds of about eight acres. The two-story frame house took its present form around 1840 and features a Palladian three-part plan, a two-tier Roman Doric portico, a modillioned cornice and plaster ceiling medallions. Nearby are a ca. 1800 kitchen, a ca. 1840 office and remnants of garden terraces. The house was completed for Philip A. Bolling, whose builder is believed to have been Valentine Parrish. It carries the name of an earlier Chellowe built about 1760 for his grandfather, the poet and politician Robert Bolling. Philip Bolling served in the Virginia House of Delegates in 1831-32 and argued for gradual emancipation during the debate that followed the Nat Turner insurrection. That stand contributed to his defeat in 1832. The Hubard family acquired the property in 1849 and held it, with related families, until 1951. Its significance rests on its architecture and on Bolling's role in state politics.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues for architectural significance because of the house's sophisticated classically inspired exterior and interiors, ostensibly Greek Revival but likely influenced by Jeffersonian Early Classical Revival. It is also tied to Philip A. Bolling, who spoke for gradual emancipation in the Virginia legislature's slavery debate of 1831-32 after the Nat Turner insurrection.
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 99000961, listed August 5, 1999. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | VA 623, Sprouses Corner |
|---|---|
| County | Buckingham County |
| Listed | August 5, 1999 |
| Reference number | 99000961 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | Ca. 1800-1849 |
| Architect / builder | Parrish, Valentine (attributed) |
| Architectural style | Early Classical Revival; Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Architecture, Politics/Government |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Current function is listed as work in progress, with plans to return the kitchen to its conjectured original location and to reconstruct a pigeonaire and a brick smokehouse. |
| Acreage | 8 |
| Coordinates | 37.48522, -78.41461 (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 99000961.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14712158
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.