River House
Also known as: Ferry Farm; VDHR File No. 21-64; See Also:Greenway Historic Di
Why it's listed
Overlooking Berry's Ferry, a historic crossing of the Shenandoah River in Clarke County, Virginia, this limestone rubble house was probably built around 1820, possibly for William Nelson Burwell, son of Nathaniel Burwell of Carter Hall. Its five-bay facades, center-passage I-house plan and thick walls combine local building traditions with Georgian proportions. Inside, much plain Federal woodwork survives, including mantels, a closed-string stair, original doors with early box locks and heart pine trim. A one-and-a-half-story frame wing replaced an earlier wing lost to fire in 1949. The grounds retain a rare three-part servants' or slave house and a stone smokehouse. The site lay on the Ashby's Gap Turnpike, and Stonewall Jackson's troops crossed here in July 1861. The property stayed with Burwell family members for generations and later served as a restaurant and retreat. It is now an inn and residence on seventeen acres, valued for its architectural integrity.
Significance in brief: It is a noteworthy example of the stone domestic architecture of the lower Shenandoah Valley, blending vernacular traditions (I-house plan, rugged stone, simple ornament) with Georgian proportions and Federal woodwork. It has had few major alterations and keeps much early fabric. The property also has a rare three-part slave or servants' house.
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 93001440, listed December 23, 1993. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | US 17/50, 2.5 mi. E of Millwood, Millwood |
|---|---|
| County | Clarke County |
| Listed | December 23, 1993 |
| Reference number | 93001440 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1820-1865 |
| Architect / builder | unknown |
| Architectural style | Early Republic: Federal; Vernacular |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Maintained in excellent condition and used as a bed and breakfast inn as well as a residence; the servants' house is used for storage and is in fair condition. |
| Acreage | 17 |
| Coordinates | 39.04090, -78.00191 (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 93001440.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14713138
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.