Leigh, Benjamin Watkins, House
Also known as: Wickham-Leigh House
Why it's listed
This three-story townhouse at 1000 E. Clay Street in Richmond was built by John Wickham between 1812 and 1816. It has a rectangular form, a four-bay facade and an off-center front door. Wickham gave the house to his daughter Julia, who married Benjamin Watkins Leigh, and the couple lived there. Leigh was a noted jurist and lawyer who helped revise the Virginia Constitution in 1831, supported states' rights, and served in the U.S. Senate during the Jackson administration. After his death in 1849 the house was sold to Lieutenant Governor John M. Gregory, and it was later sold to Sheltering Arms Hospital in 1932. Over time it gained an Italianate bracketed cornice and small porch, stucco, and a large three-story east wing joining it to the Grant House. Inside, the original stair and some woodwork survive. It is valued as a fine Federal townhouse in an old Richmond neighborhood, and it is now used for offices.
Significance in brief: The house is tied to Benjamin Watkins Leigh, a noted jurist and lawyer who helped revise the Virginia Constitution in 1831 and served in the U.S. Senate. It is also described as a fine Federal townhouse that plays a significant architectural and historical role in one of Richmond's oldest neighborhoods.
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 69000352, listed April 16, 1969. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1000 E. Clay St., Richmond (Independent City) |
|---|---|
| County | Richmond (city and county) |
| Listed | April 16, 1969 |
| Reference number | 69000352 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1812-1816 |
| Architect / builder | John Wickham (builder) |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Owned by the Medical College of Virginia and used for offices; condition listed as deteriorated, with interior alterations and a later wing added when it was part of Sheltering Arms Hospital. |
| Acreage | 0.8 |
| Within district | James River and Kanawha Canal Historic District |
| Coordinates | 37.54211, -77.43095 (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 69000352.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q15615812
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.