Caryswood
Why it's listed
Caryswood is a two-story frame house on the southwest slope of Willey's Mountain near Evington, Campbell County, Virginia. Construction began in 1854 for Robert Chancellor Saunders, and the family moved in during the late summer of 1855. The house takes its name from his wife, Caryetta. Local tradition credits carpenter James Womack with the work. Its L-shaped plan combines Greek Revival features, such as six-over-six windows and a sidelit entry, with an Italianate bay window and bracketed cornices. The flush tongue-and-groove siding is very rare in Central Virginia. A small roof platform reached by a boxed stair likely aided summer ventilation. The nomination links the design to Bleak Hill, built by Saunders's brother in Franklin County. A circa 1856 timberframe stable survives, while the icehouse, smokehouse and office are now only sites. The house is significant for architecture as an early local example of the shift from Greek Revival to Italianate style.
Significance in brief: The house is argued to be one of the earliest known examples in Campbell County of the transition from Greek Revival to Italianate style. It also has flush tongue-and-groove siding, which is very rare in Central Virginia. A mid-19th-century timberframe stable adds to its significance under Criterion C at the local level.
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 10000089, listed March 17, 2010. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 8291 Colonial Hwy., Evington |
|---|---|
| County | Campbell County |
| Listed | March 17, 2010 |
| Reference number | 10000089 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1854-1900 |
| Architect / builder | Attributed to James Womack, Builder |
| Architectural style | Mid-19th Century: Greek Revival; Late Victorian: Italianate |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a single-family dwelling, with the stable now used for storage; the smokehouse is decayed, and the icehouse and office survive only as sites. |
| Acreage | 15 |
| Coordinates | 37.23298, -79.25281 (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 10000089.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14712135
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.