Wilton
Why it's listed
Wilton is a Georgian brick mansion built in 1750-53 for William Randolph III on the James River below Richmond. In 1933 it was carefully moved to Richmond's West End under the direction of contractor Herbert Claiborne, with important brickwork such as the rubbed jack arches relocated intact. It stands on a terraced site above the river and now serves as a museum. The house has Flemish bond brickwork, a shallow hipped roof, pedimented doorways with Ionic pilasters, and a central-passage, double-pile plan with a walnut stair. Its main distinction is that every wall, even in the closets, is paneled, making it the only known fully paneled house in Virginia. Its plan and dimensions match those of nearby Westover. It is also linked to Peyton Randolph, Speaker of the House of Burgesses, chairman of the First Virginia Convention in 1775 and president of the First Continental Congress.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it one of the most significant James River plantation mansions and the only known fully paneled house in Virginia. It is also tied to Peyton Randolph, a key figure in early Revolutionary politics. It belongs to a group of mid-eighteenth-century houses related by plan or detail, including Westover, Elsing Green and the Nelson House.
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 76002231, listed April 30, 1976. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | S of Richmond, on N bank of James River, Richmond (Independent City) |
|---|---|
| County | Richmond (city and county) |
| Listed | April 30, 1976 |
| Reference number | 76002231 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1750-1753 |
| Architectural style | Georgian |
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government, Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition listed as excellent and altered by the move in 1933; the house is now used as a museum, with restricted public access. It was unoccupied when it was moved. |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Within district | James River and Kanawha Canal Historic District |
| Coordinates | 37.56267, -77.52037 (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 76002231.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q8023381
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.