Stratton Manor
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Why it's listed
Stratton Manor is a farmhouse beside Old Plantation Creek, southeast of Cape Charles in Northampton County. Built in the third quarter of the 18th century, it is a single-pile, gable-roofed house with a three-bay wood-frame core and brick ends laid in Flemish bond. Chevron patterns in glazed headers show in the gables, and exterior chimneys have steeply sloping haunches. Inside, a central passage holds an open-well stair with turned balusters, and the west parlor has a fully paneled chimney wall. A two-story ell was added early in the 20th century, and the frame walls now carry aluminum siding. Benjamin Stratton, whose family had owned the land since 1636, likely built the house. Records suggest he was a chairmaker, and he may have turned the stair balusters himself. The house is valued as a characteristic Eastern Shore dwelling and as an example of the farm-and-craft estate of a rural artisan. Several 19th-century outbuildings survive, and the open farmland setting has changed little.
Significance in brief: The house is presented as a characteristic example of 18th-century vernacular architecture on Virginia's Eastern Shore, with frame construction, Flemish bond brick ends, gable chevrons, steep-haunched exterior chimneys and paneled chimney walls. It also reflects the dwelling of a rural artisan, since Benjamin Stratton was apparently a chairmaker who farmed land his family had held since 1636.
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 80004206, listed November 28, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | SE of Cape Charles off VA 642, Cape Charles |
|---|---|
| County | Northampton County |
| Listed | November 28, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80004206 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | Third quarter 18th century |
| Architect / builder | Unknown (built by Benjamin Stratton, probably) |
| Architectural style | 18th-century Eastern Shore vernacular |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied private residence in excellent condition, with a 20th-century rear ell and aluminum siding over the frame sections; the land is still farmed. |
| Acreage | 15 |
| Coordinates | 37.26265, -75.98279 (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 80004206.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14692414
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.