National Register of Historic Places

Rich Neck Farm

Surry, Surry County, Virginia
Listed
May 18, 1980
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
80004229

About this property

Rich Neck Farm, also known as Richneck Plantation, was a historic home and farm located near Surry, Surry County, Virginia. The house was built about 1802, and was a 11⁄2-story, five-bay, double pile, central-hall plan brick dwelling in a pre-Georgian style. It had a gambrel roof with dormers and sat on a high basement. Long connected with the Ruffins, one of the prominent families of Southside Virginia, Rich Neck possessed a collection of buildings which were among the best preserved and most noteworthy of their type in the region. Original sashes, most of the doors, hinges (many with their leather washers), locks, and other hardware remained. The Ruffin family figured in Virginia's social and intellectual history throughout the colonial and early national periods. Its most notable member was Edmund Ruffin, an ardent secessionist and agricultural pioneer who is considered to be the father of agronomy. Research indicates Rich Neck remained in the Ruffin family until 1865. The house long stood vacant and in a state of disrepair. In 2011 Preservation Virginia listed Rich Neck Farm as one of the most endangered historic sites in Virginia. The house was destroyed by fire in 2012. Also on the property are two contributing granaries, a smokehouse, office, an outhouse, a well house, and a chicken house. Rich Neck Farm was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.

Location

Surry, Surry County, Virginia
37.12595, -76.75113

Categories

AGRICULTUREARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Native Heritage
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Nearby Historic Sites

Old Brick Church
Listed
1.5 mi
Chippokes Plantation
Modern
1.7 mi
Bacon's Castle
Industrial
2 mi
Melville
Industrial
2.4 mi
Pleasant Point
Industrial
3.6 mi

Questions about this property

When was Rich Neck Farm listed on the National Register?

Rich Neck Farm was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on May 18, 1980.

What type of historic resource is Rich Neck Farm?

Rich Neck Farm is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Rich Neck Farm?

The period of significance for Rich Neck Farm is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Rich Neck Farm?

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