National Register of Historic Places

Thornton, Dr. Richard, House

Nathalie, Halifax County, Virginia
Listed
November 28, 2012
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
12000987

About this property

Dr. Richard Thornton House is a historic physician's residence and farm located in Halifax County, Virginia, United States. The residence was constructed in 1818 by Dr. Richard Thornton, a physician and grandson of William Thornton of Brunswick, a Colonial politician and wealthy land owner. The Dr. Richard Thornton House was constructed circa 1818 by a wealthy local physician, Richard Thornton. Thornton was born in 1786 to Lt. Francis Thornton of 'Rolling Hill' in Charlotte County, Virginia. By 1810, Thornton had established a medical practice and farm in Halifax County, Virginia. Thornton began construction of the current residence in 1818 with no known significant alterations made to the main house during his lifetime. The house is noted for a peculiar internal division believed to have been created to provide lodging for medical students. By Thornton's death in 1860, the property held nearly 40 slaves and produced the largest quantity of tobacco in the local area. The property was taken over by his nephew, Dr. John Lemuel Thornton, whose heirs sold the property to the Marshall family in 1889. The house remained in the Marshall family until 1983. In 1984, the house and land were sold to the Smith family, who hold the land today in a private corporation. The house has been abandoned since the Marshall sale and has recently been secured for protection from vandals.

Location

Nathalie, Halifax County, Virginia
36.97822, -79.03388

Categories

ARCHITECTUREHEALTH/MEDICINE
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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Nearby Historic Sites

DeJarnette's Tavern
Early Republic
2.9 mi
Collins Ferry Historic District
Early Republic
4.6 mi
Cat Rock Sluice of the Roanoke Navigation
Listed
6.1 mi
Clarkton
Listed
6.3 mi
Green Hill
Early Republic
6.5 mi

Nearby Battles

Wilson's Raid – Staunton River Bridge
1864Civil War
12 mi

Questions about this property

When was Thornton, Dr. Richard, House listed on the National Register?

Thornton, Dr. Richard, House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 28, 2012.

What type of historic resource is Thornton, Dr. Richard, House?

Thornton, Dr. Richard, House is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Thornton, Dr. Richard, House?

The period of significance for Thornton, Dr. Richard, House is recorded as the industrial era.

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