Oak Grove
Also known as: VDHR File No. 65-19
Why it's listed
Oak Grove is a plantation on a low peninsula in lower Northampton County, Virginia, bordered by Mattawoman Creek and a tidal gut and looking out over the Chesapeake Bay. Its weatherboarded manor house grew in stages. A gambrel-roofed core, probably built in the mid-18th century, gained a two-story Federal wing around 1811 and a matching Greek Revival wing around 1840. In the 1940s, new owners added a kitchen wing, a garage and a sun room, and commissioned a colonial-style formal garden from Richmond landscape architect Charles Gillette. Original woodwork survives in each early section, including a carved Federal mantel in the north wing. Early outbuildings near the house include a smokehouse, an office and a probable dairy, and twentieth-century farm buildings sit to the northeast. The property was listed for its architecture. The nomination presents the house as a typical Eastern Shore dwelling that records successive generations of owners, with the 1940s changes reflecting Colonial Revival tastes.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues that the manor house is a distinctive, evolving frame dwelling that reflects generations of owners, typical of Eastern Shore architecture. It has a mid-18th-century gambrel-roofed core, a Federal wing from about 1811, a Greek Revival wing from about 1840, and a 1940s Colonial Revival addition. The 1942 garden by Richmond landscape architect Charles Gillette and the early outbuildings add to its significance, as does its scenic setting overlooking the Chesapeake Bay.
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 93000006, listed February 4, 1993. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | VA 630 N side, 1 mi. W of jct. with US 13, Eastville |
|---|---|
| County | Northampton County |
| Listed | February 4, 1993 |
| Reference number | 93000006 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | Ca. 1750 - 1942 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown (garden designed by Charles Gillette, landscape architect) |
| Architectural style | Colonial: Postmedieval English; Early Republic: Federal; Mid-19th-Century: Greek Revival; 20th-Century Revival: Colonial Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Maintained in excellent condition; still used as a country home with no alterations reported in the last forty years. |
| Acreage | 171.6 |
| Coordinates | 37.38148, -75.95398 (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 93000006.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14692318
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.