Windsor Shades
Also known as: Ruffin's Ferry; Waterville
Why it's listed
Windsor Shades, also known as Waterville and Ruffin's Ferry, is a Tidewater planter's house beside the Pamunkey River in King William County, Virginia. The story-and-a-half frame dwelling has a gambrel roof, beaded weatherboards, a low English-bond brick basement, and a central-passage, double-pile plan. Its most striking features are the large Flemish-bond brick chimneys at each end, with the east pair rising through two stories of pent closets. Inside, the house keeps eighteenth-century paneling and early nineteenth-century mantels and trim. The house was probably built around the middle of the eighteenth century, possibly by Thomas Chamberlayne. His son Edward Pye Chamberlayne owned the property in the 1780s and kept an account book for the ferry that operated nearby. That ferry, close to New Kent Court House, was heavily used through most of the century. The house was valued for its architecture, its little-altered condition, and its Chamberlayne family and ferry associations. About fourteen acres are included.
Significance in brief: The nomination cites its high-quality eighteenth- and early nineteenth-century interiors and its massive Flemish-bond brick chimneys, described as a famous example of colonial masonry. It is also tied to the prominent Chamberlayne family and to a heavily traveled ferry that operated there for most of the eighteenth century.
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 78003025, listed May 22, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | SW of Sweet Hall off VA 30, Sweet Hall |
|---|---|
| County | King William County |
| Listed | May 22, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78003025 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1700-1799 |
| Architectural style | Tidewater planter's house |
| Areas of significance | Transportation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as occupied, privately owned, in good condition; described as little altered. |
| Acreage | 14 |
| Coordinates | 37.57113, -76.90997 (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 78003025.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q8024702
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.