Pinewoods
Also known as: Warbuton House
Why it's listed
Pinewoods, known historically as the Warburton House, is a one-and-a-half story brick dwelling near Lightfoot in James City County, Virginia. It represents a typical planter's house of the late seventeenth century. Fire destroyed parts of the building, so only the brick portions are original. Those walls show early colonial brickwork, laid in Flemish bond with glazed headers above the water table and in English bond below, with deep segmental arches over the openings. Its two T-shaped chimney stacks are set back slightly from the end walls to form a beveled ridge near the roofline, a treatment common on comparable English houses but rare in America. Local records were destroyed, so little is known of its early history. It is believed a Warburton built it, and Thomas Warburton patented 200 acres in the county in 1664. The house stands in a small clearing at the end of a wooded lane, and the family still owns it.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents it as a typical Virginia planter's house of the late seventeenth century. Its early colonial brickwork and unusual T-shaped chimney stacks are noted as architecturally distinctive, although fire and later additions have reduced its antique appearance.
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 71000983, listed November 12, 1971. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1.4 mi. SW of jct. of VA 613 and 614, Lightfoot |
|---|---|
| County | James City County |
| Listed | November 12, 1971 |
| Reference number | 71000983 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 17th Century |
| Architect / builder | Believed built by a Warburton; no architect named |
| Architectural style | Late seventeenth-century Virginia planter's house (early colonial) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition listed as fair and altered; remaining original brick fabric is described as well preserved and maintained. The property is privately owned by the Warburton family and used as a private residence. |
| Acreage | 140 |
| Coordinates | 37.27173, -76.82682 (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 71000983.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14713066
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.