Virginia Department of Historic Resources Virginia Department of Historic Resources
For additional information, read the Nomination Form PDF
VLR Listing Date 06/17/1998
NRHP Listing Date 06/28/1999
DHR's Virginia Board of Historic Resources easement
NRHP Reference Number 99000727
Woodbourne is located in rolling Piedmont countryside, approached by a farm road leading into a sheltered creek valley just outside of the courthouse town of Madison in Madison County. The house at Woodbourne is a two-story gable-roofed brick structure built between 1805 and 1814, and it exhibits outstanding construction features on the exterior and interior. Built for Henry Price, the fine Flemish-bond brickwork has been attributed to master mason, William B. Phillips, who worked for Thomas Jefferson and later became involved with the construction of the Madison County Courthouse. Woodbourne also served as residence for Dr. George Nathaniel Thrift. Thrift became involved in an argument with his attorney, James Lawson Kemper, future Virginia governor. A duel was planned, but was stopped when discovered by local authorities. The simple, plain lines of the house, combined with the evident craftsmanship of the builders and the rustic charm of the countryside surrounding it present a beautiful picture of an early, 19th-century Virginia farmhouse. In the 21st century, the Woodbourne property became the home to the Bald Top Brewing Company.
Abbreviations:
VLR: Virginia Landmarks Register
NPS: National Park Service
NRHP: National Register of Historic Places
NHL: National Historic Landmark
Updated: March 3, 2022
