Windsor Castle
Also known as: Windsor; DHL File No. 47-21
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Why it's listed
Windsor Castle is a farmstead roughly three miles west of Toano in James City County, Virginia. The property has remained a fifty-acre tract since at least 1810. Its main house was built in the third quarter of the 18th century as a double-pile, side-passage frame dwelling with brick end chimneys. Between about 1800 and 1830 a two-room-deep addition to the west produced a five-bay, central-passage plan. Inside, the original closed-string stair, wainscot, walnut corner cupboard and Federal mantels survive. A 1966 renovation added a porch and a rear wing, and the siding was replaced with beaded redwood. Three outbuildings and a wellhouse are modern and do not contribute to the property's historic character. The property was listed because it is one of the few 18th-century vernacular farmsteads in Virginia's Lower Peninsula still farmed and held by one family for over two centuries. Records and photographs also suggest buried remains of earlier kitchens and outbuildings.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues that Windsor Castle is one of the few remaining 18th-century vernacular farmsteads in Virginia's Lower Peninsula still in agricultural use and in the same family for more than two centuries. The house shows how Tidewater builders adapted traditional forms over generations, from a side-passage plan to a central-passage plan. The site also has strong potential for archaeological study of 18th- and 19th-century outbuildings.
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 87002149, listed December 14, 1987. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1812 Forge Rd., Toano |
|---|---|
| County | James City County |
| Listed | December 14, 1987 |
| Reference number | 87002149 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1760-1780; ca. 1800-1830 |
| Architectural style | Vernacular Tidewater Virginia plantation house with Federal mantels |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied as a private residence and farmstead; maintained in excellent condition by its owners. Renovated and enlarged in 1966. |
| Acreage | 50 |
| Coordinates | 37.37652, -76.85364 (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 87002149.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14713547
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.