Belleview
Why it's listed
Belleview is a plantation house on the crest of a rise near Ridgeway in Henry County, Virginia, facing east across open cultivated fields. Built in 1783 for Major John Redd, a pioneer settler who served on the county court for about four decades and fought in the Revolutionary War, including at Yorktown, it is described as a rare early survivor in south central Virginia. The five-bay, two-story weatherboarded house has a two-tier gabled portico with slender Greek Ionic columns, arched fanlights over its doorways, and brick end chimneys. Inside, a center hall is flanked by rooms with elaborate mantels, dentil cornices and raised-panel wainscoting, much of it original. A restoration in the mid-1950s added a sun porch, a wing and central heating. Redd is buried in the estate graveyard, and the property has always passed within his family. Its setting of fields, fences and a small smokehouse-turned-stable remains largely free of visual intrusions.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents Belleview as a rare early survivor in south central Virginia, notable for its finely detailed interior woodwork including carved mantels, dentil molding, arched doorways and wainscoting. It was the home of Major John Redd, a pioneer settler, county court member and Revolutionary War veteran. It has stayed in the Redd family and kept a largely unspoiled rural setting.
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 74002129, listed June 10, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | S of VA 641, Ridgeway |
|---|---|
| County | Henry County |
| Listed | June 10, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74002129 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 18th Century |
| Architectural style | Late-eighteenth-century plantation house |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition of the fabric is stated as excellent; the house was restored in the mid-1950s and is a private residence. The classification boxes mark it both occupied and unoccupied. |
| Acreage | 40 |
| Coordinates | 36.60659, -79.88743 (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 74002129.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14712012
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.