Virginia Department of Historic Resources Virginia Department of Historic Resources
For additional information, read the Nomination Form PDF
VLR Listing Date 12/08/2022
Rotherwood is an early 19th century agricultural estate and former plantation located in rural Southampton County, west of the town of Capron. The property is accessed via long, tree-lined dirt driveway off of Highway 58, and consists of the ca 1809 house, surrounded by agricultural fields. Rotherwood includes one early 19th century outbuilding and several 20th century agricultural outbuildings located to the north of the house. The main house is set apart from the outbuildings and sits on a hill overlooking the fields. Between 1809 and 1820, and again in 1851-52, the house was enlarged and remodeled. The two-story, five-bay, rectangular, wood-frame house’s mid-19th century Greek Revival features present today most likely date to this third phase of construction. Rotherwood is locally significant as a well-preserved 19th century plantation that evolved into an agricultural estate following the Civil War; for its association with upwards of 100 enslaved persons who lived and worked on the property; and for the architectural importance of the main house and its collection of vernacular outbuildings. Archaeological investigations on the property have to date located at least one site with the potential to yield information about the lives of the African Americans who lived at Rotherwood.
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 8, 2022
