Highland Road Historic District
The Highland Road Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. Portions of the content on this web page were adapted from a copy of the original nomination document. [‡]
Description
The Highland Road Historic District, located northeast of the South Hampton Town Center, New Hampshire, adjoining the Kensington Town Line, retains its late-eighteenth and early-nineteenth century rural character.
Included within the Highland Road Historic District are intact examples of Georgian and Federal period architecture constructed in wood and sited on undivided agricultural acreage. Initial agricultural development patterns survive as do five Georgian, and three Federal style farm dwellings, and associated agricultural outbuildings.
Of particular note are the Highland Road Historic District's maintained, open vistas which extend south from Highland Road.
Within the area are also located three non-residential structures which maintain the Highland Road Historic District's design character and respect the historical, rural landscape.
Significance
The Highland Road Historic District is significant as an intact group of Georgian and Federal farm structures which retain the architectural and visual integrity of an eighteenth century agricultural district. Most of these dwellings retain significant portions of their original acreage; thus, initial agricultural development patterns survive, along with five Georgian and three Federal style farm dwellings, and associated agricultural outbuildings. Of particular note are the Highland Road Historic Districts' maintained open vistas which extend south from Highland Road. The three modern dwellings within the Highland Road Historic District do not obtrude on its overall character.
As in the case of many of South Hampton's dwellings originally constructed as part of agricultural complexes, Highland Road area dwellings are simplified adaptations of more sophisticated architectural forms. Proportion, scale, and materials are the primary mediums of style. Architectural ornamentation is minimal and frequently confined to central points of focus such as entries.
Illustrating a textbook contrast between the Georgian and Federal styles are the Murphy House a c.1730 Georgian style dwelling, and the Berry House a c.1800 Federal dwelling. Though similar in basic, symmetrical composition, these structures dramatically illustrate the transition in proportion and detail from the robust forms associated with Georgian architecture to the more refined, Adam-influenced, Federal style.
Original, low density, rural development patterns have been retained providing remarkably intact evidence of the area's early appearance. The integrity of the Highland Road Historic District is further enhanced through active cultivation of agricultural acreage.
‡ National Park Service, Highland Road Historic District, South Hampton, NH, nomination document, NRHP #83001146, National Register of Historic Places, Washington, D.C.
Street Names
Highland Road
