Lands End
.jpg){kind=link}
Why it's listed
Lands End is a brick farmhouse near the southeastern tip of Robins Neck in Gloucester County, Virginia, facing the Severn River, a tributary of Mobjack Bay. Built between 1796 and 1800 for sea captain John Sinclair, it has a steeply pitched gambrel roof, a single-pile plan and a fully above-grade basement, which gives it an unusually tall profile on its low, marshy site. Its Flemish bond brickwork, gauged jack arches and pedimented porch are typical of good Tidewater farmhouses of the period. Inside, a closed-string stair and much original woodwork survive. A rear wing incorporates a dance parlor added in the 1840s. Sinclair was remembered for carrying dispatches to the French fleet at Newport before the Yorktown campaign, and for a 1794 privateering dispute involving the ship Unicorn. Later owners included Cary Selden Jones, Richard P. Jones and Judge Warner Throckmorton Jones. The house has been extensively renovated and is in excellent condition.
Significance in brief: The nomination cites its architecture as typical of better-quality late-eighteenth-century Tidewater Virginia farmhouses, with a distinctive vertical form shaped by its low, marshy site. It is also tied to Captain John Sinclair, a Revolutionary War sea captain who carried dispatches to the French fleet before Yorktown. Later owners included members of the locally prominent Jones family.
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 74002118, listed November 6, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | SE of Naxera on VA 614, Naxera |
|---|---|
| County | Gloucester County |
| Listed | November 6, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74002118 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1796-1800 |
| Architectural style | Late-eighteenth-century Tidewater Virginia farmhouse with gambrel roof |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Maritime History, Social History |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in excellent condition after an extensive renovation; used as a private residence and occupied. |
| Acreage | 30 |
| Coordinates | 37.32642, -76.42576 (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 74002118.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q15241476
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.