Virginia Department of Historic Resources Virginia Department of Historic Resources
For additional information, read the Nomination Form PDF
VLR Listing Date 11/18/1980
NRHP Listing Date 06/28/1982
NRHP Reference Number 82004530
Although built on an unpretentious scale, Hermitage in Accomack County has the architectural quality characteristic of the Eastern Shore’s larger residences. With its chevron-decorated brick gables, dormer windows, symmetrical façade, and pleasing proportions the house is an excellent example of Virginia’s early gentry architecture, exhibiting both quaintness and formality. It is also among the best preserved houses of its type in the area, retaining a richly decorated parlor chimneypiece and a Georgian stair with molded handrail and turned balusters. Hermitage was constructed in two stages between 1769 and 1787 by Emmanuel Bayly, a member of a prominent Eastern Shore family. Bayly conducted a notably successful farming operation here, raising corn, oats, flax, cattle, sheep, and hogs. The house preserves its rural setting.
Many properties listed in the registers are private dwellings and are not open to the public, however many are visible from the public right-of-way. Please be respectful of owner privacy.
Abbreviations:
VLR: Virginia Landmarks Register
NPS: National Park Service
NRHP: National Register of Historic Places
NHL: National Historic Landmark
Updated: December 20, 2021
