Tynes, Robert, House
Also known as: Tynes Plantation; 046-0002
Why it's listed
Built in 1750 by Robert Tynes, this brick house near Smithfield, Virginia, is a Georgian dwelling in the Tidewater Gambrel form. Its walls are laid in Flemish bond with glazed headers, and bricks above two doors are etched "R T 1750" and "M T 1750" for Robert and Mary Tynes. Inside, a center-passage plan, hand-hewn pegged rafters numbered with Roman numerals, and a basement kitchen survive. A smokehouse, a kitchen chimney and foundation, a boxwood garden with a well, and a chicken house stand on the 1.3-acre site beside Holly Creek. The house is considered a rare intact example of its form in Isle of Wight County. It is also tied to Robert's son Timothy Tynes, who held more than four thousand acres. In his 1802 will he freed eighty-one enslaved people and left them land, which led to African American communities in the county. The site was recognized for this history and for its architecture.
Significance in brief: The house is a rare intact example of the Tidewater Gambrel form in Isle of Wight County and retains its 1750 brick construction. It is also linked to Timothy Tynes, who freed his eighty-one slaves and left them land in his 1802 will, which helped shape African American communities in the county.
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 07000194, listed March 21, 2007. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 13060 Courthouse Hwy., Smithfield |
|---|---|
| County | Isle of Wight County |
| Listed | March 21, 2007 |
| Reference number | 07000194 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1750-1802 |
| Architect / builder | Tynes, Robert-builder |
| Architectural style | COLONIAL: Georgian (Tidewater Gambrel form) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Black |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a single dwelling with secondary structures; a circa 1950 addition, expanded in the 1970s, is attached to the west side. |
| Acreage | 1.3 |
| Coordinates | 36.96504, -76.66275 (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 07000194.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14713145
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.