Spring Hill
Why it's listed
Spring Hill is a timber-frame house of one and one-half stories on Carriage Road near Providence Forge, New Kent County, Virginia. It is believed to have been built around 1782 for Richard Croshaw Graves, whose family held the land from an inherited 906-acre tract. The five-bay Federal-style house has a center-hall plan, a brick foundation with a full English basement, beaded weatherboard siding, a wood shingle roof and large brick end chimneys. Original chair rails, wainscot, baseboards, heart pine floors and plaster walls survive inside. A 1947 addition was built on the northeast side and is described as matching the original in materials, form and detail. A smokehouse, probably built soon after the house, also contributes to the property. The house stood on the old road between Richmond and Williamsburg and served as a tavern, with a race course and stables, in the late eighteenth century. It is significant for its architecture and its well-preserved construction details, and today it serves as a private residence.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is significant for its architecture as a well-preserved example of a late eighteenth-century Federal-style, center-hall-plan frame dwelling. It retains original woodwork, framing and masonry, and the 1947 addition is described as complementary to the original. It also has a documented history as a tavern and race course run by the Graves family on the old Richmond-Williamsburg road.
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 02001448, listed November 27, 2002. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 11221 Carriage Rd., Providence Forge |
|---|---|
| County | New Kent County |
| Listed | November 27, 2002 |
| Reference number | 02001448 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c. 1782-1952 |
| Architectural style | Early Republic/Federal |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Currently a private residence; the form also lists a restaurant among current functions. |
| Acreage | 11.1 |
| Coordinates | 37.43438, -76.99562 (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 02001448.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14713237
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.