Taylor-Whittle House
Also known as: Whittle House
Why it's listed
Standing on the corner of Freemason and Duke Streets, this two-story brick town house is the focal point of the only early neighborhood remaining in Norfolk. Built about 1791, probably by merchant George Purdie, it has Flemish bond brickwork, stone lintels and keystones, a stone belt course, a pedimented gable roof and a small Doric porch. The original block is about forty feet square, with the drawing room on the second floor and much Adam style interior trim surviving. Later owners included Richard Taylor, then Captain Richard Lucien Page, a naval officer who served the Confederacy, and the family of his son-in-law William Conway Whittle. The house is considered among the finest late-eighteenth century Federal style town houses in Virginia and one of few of its type left in Tidewater. Its close resemblance to the nearby Moses Myers House suggests a common designer, though neither architect nor builder is known.
Significance in brief: The nomination ranks it among the finest late-eighteenth century Federal style town houses in Virginia and one of few surviving examples of its type in Tidewater. Its design and workmanship reflect the prosperity of Norfolk's post-Revolutionary era. It was also home to Captain Richard Lucien Page, a Confederate naval officer, and later to the Whittle family.
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 71001059, listed September 22, 1971. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 225 W. Freemason St., Norfolk (Independent City) |
|---|---|
| County | Norfolk |
| Listed | September 22, 1971 |
| Reference number | 71001059 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 18th Century |
| Architectural style | Federal style, with Adam style interior trim in the drawing room |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as good condition, largely unaltered on the exterior, in private ownership by the Norfolk Historic Foundation; later grant records describe restoration phases. |
| Acreage | 9.9 |
| Within district | West Freemason Street Area Historic District (Additional Documentation) |
| Coordinates | 36.85159, -76.29227 (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 71001059.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q16901363
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.