Elm Hill
Approximate location: the National Park Service places this pin arbitrarily within the property, not at a surveyed point (stated accuracy ±12 m).
Why it's listed
Elm Hill is a large frame house built around 1800 on a hilltop above the Roanoke River, in an area now covered by Lake Gaston in Mecklenburg County, Virginia. It has a two-story, three-bay central block with one-story wings and a two-story rear ell, forming a T-shaped plan. Massive chimneys of coursed pink sandstone stand at each end of the main block, and the interior retains molded mantels, wainscoting, cornices and an unusual chair rail. Two early smokehouses survive nearby. The house is considered one of the earliest surviving in the Roanoke River basin and is a rare example of a vernacular plantation house of its date. It is also linked to Sir Peyton Skipwith, founder of Prestwould, whose family owned the land. Records suggest his son Peyton Jr. replaced an earlier house with the present one between 1799 and 1801. The house is now vacant and deteriorating.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it one of the earliest surviving houses in the Roanoke River basin. It is notable for its T-shaped plan, pink sandstone chimneys, fine mantels, chair rails and original sash and interior trim. It is also tied to the family of Sir Peyton Skipwith, who established Prestwould.
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 79003053, listed July 27, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | SE of Baskerville off VA 4, Baskerville |
|---|---|
| County | Mecklenburg County |
| Listed | July 27, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79003053 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca. 1800 |
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The house is described as vacant, untended for over a decade, unused and in a state of deterioration. It is owned by the Commission of Game and Inland Fisheries. |
| Acreage | 4 |
| Coordinates | 36.61070, -78.29342 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 79003053.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14712284
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.