Wentworth–Grinnan House facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
U.S. Historic district Contributing property
Location in Virginia
Location	123 South Church Street, Smithfield, Virginia
Built	ca.1780; 1820-22
Part of	Smithfield Historic District (ID73002022)
Designated CP	July 2, 1973

The Wentworth–Grinnan House is a very old and special home built around 1780. It is located in Smithfield, Virginia, a historic town by the Pagan River. This house is so important that it's listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's recognized as a significant part of American history.

Smithfield was once a busy seaport. It traded goods with places like Bermuda and the West Indies. The Wentworth–Grinnan House stands in the Smithfield Historic District. This area helps protect the town's colonial past.

Discovering the History of Wentworth–Grinnan House

This brick wall shows a special pattern called Flemish bond.

The Wentworth–Grinnan House started as a smaller home before 1760. It was a one-and-a-half-story building. Later, between 1820 and 1822, a much larger section was added. This new part was two-and-a-half stories tall.

The original part of the house has a sloped roof with windows sticking out. It also has wooden siding and a brick wall with a chimney. The newer addition also has wooden siding and a brick chimney. It features windows with six small panes on the top and six on the bottom. There is also a porch across the front. The house is a great example of Georgian architecture. This style was popular in the 1700s and early 1800s.

Early Owners and Important Goods

The land where the house stands was first sold in 1752. Captain Samuel Browne bought it for a small amount of money. Captain Browne was one of the first people to settle in Smithfield. He was a sailor and worked in the shipping and trading business.

When Captain Browne passed away in 1760, he owned half of a ship called the London. His warehouse, which was part of the original house, held many interesting items. These included coffee, molasses (a sweet syrup), sugar, and rum. He also stored salt, wheat, hams, bacon, and allspice. This shows how important trade was to Smithfield long ago.

The front door of the Wentworth–Grinnan House in 2012.

After Captain Browne, the property went to Captain Samuel Wentworth. He lived next door. The Wentworth family owned the house until 1809. Later, other important families in Smithfield lived there. The Grinnan family, for example, lived in the house for 72 years.

The Wentworth–Grinnan House was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. It is considered a "contributing building" to the Smithfield Historic District. This means it helps make the historic district special.