Belle Air
Why it's listed
Belle Air is a farmhouse on a gentle rise near Charles City Court House in Charles City County, Virginia. Its original section followed a typical Virginia plan, with a center passage and a room on either side, and a symmetrical five-bay facade. Around 1800 three bays were added at the west end, which gave the house its present unsymmetrical look. Inside, the corner posts, plates, girts and summer beams are partly exposed and carry chamfers with lamb's tongue terminals. The original stair has heavy turned balusters. The property traces back to Colonel Thomas Stegge II and to David Clarke, whose descendants probably built the present house around the turn of the eighteenth century. Hamlin Willcox acquired it in 1800, and the Willcox family held it until 1945. Each section was restored in the 1950s. The house was listed because it is a rare example of William and Mary period vernacular building that shows the move toward eighteenth-century design, and because it is the oldest remaining dwelling on Route 5.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents it as a rare surviving example of William and Mary period vernacular architecture that shows the shift from seventeenth-century to eighteenth-century Virginia building methods. It keeps rare exposed interior framing and a heavy Jacobean-style closed-string stair. It is also described as the oldest remaining dwelling on historic Route 5, the plantation road linking Williamsburg and Richmond.
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 74002232, listed July 18, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | N of VA 5, Charles City |
|---|---|
| County | Charles City County |
| Listed | July 18, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74002232 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 18th Century |
| Architectural style | William and Mary period vernacular |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition is stated as excellent/good. It is a private residence and also an historic house museum, restored in the 1950s. |
| Acreage | 135 |
| Coordinates | 37.34715, -77.06091 (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 74002232.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4883594
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.