Virginia Department of Historic Resources Virginia Department of Historic Resources
For additional information, read the Nomination Form PDF
VLR Listing Date 09/08/2004
NRHP Listing Date 11/27/2004
NRHP Reference Number 04001273
Encompassing 56-plus acres along the Thornton River in Rappahannock County, the Laurel Mills Historic District is significant for its cohesive collection of mid- to late 19th-century architectural structures associated with the Rappahannock Woolen Mills. The village of Laurel Mills was officially established in 1847, although a sawmill and gristmill operated there beginning in the late 18th century. The compact village thrived in response to the growing mill industry, which took advantage of the Thornton River’s waterpower. The Laurel Mills Historic District’s period of significance extends from circa 1840, when the first workers’ houses were constructed to support a gristmill, through to 1927, when the woolen mill ceased operation. The dominant building forms and styles, often vernacular in interpretation, include Greek Revival, Queen Anne, Italianate, and Gothic Revival. A row of three workers’ houses dating to the mid-19th century features several vernacular forms. At the time of its listing, Laurel Mills appeared much as it did when the mill closed.
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: May 16, 2022
