Godwin-Knight House
Also known as: DHR File No. 133-576
Why it's listed
Located on King's Highway in the village of Chuckatuck, this frame house began about 1856 as a two-and-a-half-story, three-bay, side-hall-plan dwelling in the Federal style, built for Edward F. Wicks on a lot sold off from the Godwin family farm. Around 1900, Charles B. Godwin remodeled it in the Queen Anne style, adding a round corner tower with a conical roof, a wraparound porch, a balconied dormer, an encaustic tile vestibule, and elaborate plasterwork in the parlor. Because the work consisted of additions, the earlier structure remains visible, especially on the east side with its paired chimneys. Seven late-nineteenth- and early-twentieth-century outbuildings, including a summer kitchen, smokehouse, and log barn, show the self-sufficiency of the property. The house was valued as an unusual and locally rare example of an antebellum home transformed in the Queen Anne manner. Later owners included Mills E. Godwin, Sr., whose son became governor of Virginia.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is an unusually fine and locally rare example of an antebellum dwelling remodeled in the Queen Anne style in the late nineteenth century. The remodeling added only additions and embellishments, so the original Federal-style form remains visible. A nearby house that is nearly identical to the original design stands in contrast to it.
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 92001028, listed August 24, 1992. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 140 King's Hwy., Chuckatuck (Independent City) |
|---|---|
| County | Suffolk |
| Listed | August 24, 1992 |
| Reference number | 92001028 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c1856-1930 |
| Architectural style | Federal; Queen Anne |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in an excellent state of repair, with the main house still used as a single dwelling. |
| Acreage | 1.4 |
| Within district | Chuckatuck Historic District |
| Coordinates | 36.86158, -76.57737 (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 92001028.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q16839486
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.