Eyre Hall
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Why it's listed
Eyre Hall is a plantation house near Cheriton on Virginia's Eastern Shore. It grew in stages. The oldest part is a story-and-a-half, four-room frame house from the mid-eighteenth century, probably built by Littleton Eyre after he bought the land in 1754. Around 1796 his grandson John Eyre added a large gambrel-roof block, and the earlier house became a wing and was raised to two full stories. The main block is unusual for having three floor levels under its gambrel roof. Inside, an elliptical arch divides the hall, and the rooms have Doric pilasters, panelling and an Adam mantelpiece. The stair hall carries French scenic wallpaper, "Les Rives de Bosphore," made around 1816 by Dufour. The land was first patented in 1637. The house, its furnishings, outbuildings, cemetery and gardens survive as a remarkably complete plantation complex that shows the sophistication of Eastern Shore plantation life, and the property has stayed with the Eyre family's descendants.
Significance in brief: The nomination ranks Eyre Hall among the major eighteenth-century plantation houses on the Eastern Shore. Its main block is rare for having three floor levels beneath a gambrel roof. The house, furnishings, outbuildings, cemetery and gardens survive as a remarkably complete plantation complex, and the property has remained with the Eyre descendants.
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 69000265, listed November 12, 1969. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 3215 Eyre Hall Dr., Cheriton |
|---|---|
| County | Northampton County |
| Listed | November 12, 1969 |
| Reference number | 69000265 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 18th Century |
| Architect / builder | Littleton Eyre (earliest portion, assumed); John Eyre (gambrel roof portion, circa 1796) |
| Areas of significance | Art |
| Level of significance | National, State |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated March 2, 2012 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in good condition, occupied and used as a private residence; the form says it is little changed since John Eyre's addition. |
| Coordinates | 37.31301, -75.97663 (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 69000265.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5422987
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.