Westerhouse House
Why it's listed
Westerhouse is a small, one-story brick farmhouse on the west bank of Westerhouse Creek near Bridgetown, on Church Neck in Northampton County. Built around 1700 according to stylistic analysis, it has a steep gable roof, Flemish bond brickwork with glazed headers, and a simple hall-parlor plan with asymmetrical openings. Its east end chimney, with a heavy pyramidal base, long sloping tiled weatherings and a squat free-standing stack, is a distinctive regional feature shared by fewer than a half dozen surviving Eastern Shore structures of the period. The house takes its name from the Westerhouse family, established in the county in 1661 and owners until the late eighteenth century. Adrian Westerhouse, or his son William, probably built it. Although altered and badly deteriorated, it keeps its essential character and could be restored. It was recognized as an exceptionally rare surviving example of early Southern vernacular building, with no trace of the classical influence found in later Georgian houses.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it an outstanding and exceptionally rare example of Stuart-period Southern vernacular architecture. Its hall-parlor plan, steep gable roof, asymmetrical openings and massive pyramidal-based end chimney reflect English medieval cottage prototypes. Fewer than a half dozen similar Eastern Shore structures from the period remain, and none has secured preservation.
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 74002139, listed November 19, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | W of Bridgetown off VA 619, Bridgetown |
|---|---|
| County | Northampton County |
| Listed | November 19, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74002139 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 18th Century |
| Architectural style | Stuart-period Southern vernacular farmhouse (hall-parlor plan) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Altered and much deteriorated, but said to retain its essential character and be capable of restoration; listed as unoccupied. |
| Acreage | 22 |
| Coordinates | 37.44913, -75.96912 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 74002139.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q16903136
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.