Virginia Department of Historic Resources Virginia Department of Historic Resources
For additional information, read the Nomination Form PDF
VLR Listing Date 10/06/1970
NRHP Listing Date 12/18/1970
NRHP Reference Number 70000795
This symmetrical plantation house, in a commanding position at the mouth of Sara’s Creek, is a distinguished example of mid-18th-century Tidewater architecture. Typical of the colony’s finest dwellings, Little England is very plain on the exterior, relying on its regular fenestration, geometrical proportions, and fine brickwork for aesthetic effect. In contrast to the exterior, the interior of Little England has fully paneled walls and is highlighted by architectural chimneypieces and a Georgian stair railing, all showing colonial Virginia joinery at its best. The Gloucester County property was granted to John Perrin in 1651; the present house at Little England was built some 100 years later by his descendant, also named John Perrin. One of the frame wings is an 18th-century addition that originally was attached to the center of the land front and moved to the north end in the 1930s when the house was restored.
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 21, 2021
