Bewdley
Why it's listed
Set on the banks of the Mattaponi River in rural King and Queen County, Bewdley is a large two-story, L-shaped brick plantation house begun in the third quarter of the 18th century, probably by Obadiah Marriott. Its walls are laid in Flemish bond with rubbed and gauged segmental window heads, and an early 19th-century pedimented portico on four Tuscan columns shelters the entrance. Marriott was a debtor to Speaker John Robinson's estate, and the financial blow that followed the Robinson scandal apparently halted construction. A 1767 newspaper notice offered the house for sale as one that could be finished at small expense. Little 18th-century trim survives, and the main stair and much interior finish date from the early 19th century, after decades of incomplete work. The plan, with a central passage and an ell, resembles other large Tidewater houses of the period. The listed area also covers open field where early farm structures may have stood.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it one of the outstanding late-Colonial plantation houses of Tidewater Virginia, noted for its formal mass, brickwork and L-plan. Its unfinished interior ties it to the Speaker John Robinson financial scandal, a major political event of pre-Revolutionary Virginia. The boundary also takes in open field with possible archaeological remains of early farm structures.
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 78003024, listed November 16, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | S of St. Stephens Church on Mattaponi River, St. Stephens Church |
|---|---|
| County | King and Queen County |
| Listed | November 16, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78003024 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied private residence in good condition, with brick walls and an early 19th-century portico; the property is described as occupied. |
| Acreage | 52 |
| Coordinates | 37.75449, -77.06457 (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 78003024.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14712025
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.