Residence, The
Also known as: Woodberry
Why it's listed
Set on the campus of Woodberry Forest School in Madison County, Virginia, this one-and-a-half-story frame house was built in 1793 for William Madison, brother of President James Madison. It is reputedly based on suggestions from Thomas Jefferson, who had taught law to Madison and wrote about a house plan that year. Jeffersonian features include a Tuscan portico, an entrance flanked by large windows and a hipped roof that lends a sense of monumentality to a small house. In 1884 Captain Robert Walker and his wife enlarged it with wings, bay windows, a new pediment and a rear pavilion, and the basement was dug out to hold a dining room and kitchen. Original Tuscan columns, a Federal mantel, a king post roof system and a smokehouse survive. The Walker family's tutor for their sons led to the founding of Woodberry Forest School. The house was long the headmaster's home and now serves as the school's guest house.
Significance in brief: The house is considered architecturally significant as a design reputedly created by Thomas Jefferson in 1793 for his former law student William Madison. Despite later additions, enough original fabric survives to show the builder's intentions, including the Tuscan portico columns, the hipped roof and the original king post roof system. It is also tied to the origins of Woodberry Forest School.
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 79003052, listed June 19, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Woodberry Forest School, Woodberry Forest |
|---|---|
| County | Madison County |
| Listed | June 19, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79003052 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Thomas Jefferson (reputed designer); William Madison (builder/owner) |
| Architectural style | Federal / Palladian-style frame dwelling |
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition is marked excellent; it serves as the school's guest house and was long the headmaster's home. |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Coordinates | 38.29245, -78.11870 (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 79003052.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14713326
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.