| Shirley | |
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| U.S. National Register of Historic Places | |
| U.S. National Historic Landmark | |
 Main house of Shirley Plantation, July 2006
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| Nearest city: | Hopewell, Virginia |
| Coordinates: | 37°21′21″N 77°14′39″W / 37.35583°N 77.24417°W |
| Built/Founded: | 1723 |
| Architect: | Unknown |
| Architectural style(s): | Georgian |
| Governing body: | Private |
| Added to NRHP: | October 1, 1969 |
| Designated NHL: | April 15, 1970[1] |
| NRHP Reference#: | 69000328 [2] |
Shirley Plantation is an estate located on the north bank of the James River in Charles City County, Virginia. It is located on State Route 5, a scenic byway which runs between the independent cities of Richmond and Williamsburg. Shirley Plantation is the oldest active plantation in Virginia and is the oldest family-owned business in North America, after the Tuttle Family Farm in New Hampshire,[3] dating back to 1638.[4] The plantation was added to the National Register on 1969-10-01 and declared a National Historic Landmark on 1970-04-15.
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History
The lands of Shirley Plantation was first settled in 1613 by Sir Thomas West, 3rd Baron De la Warr and was named West and Sherley Hundred. The land was cultivated for growing tobacco to be shipped around the colonies and England.
In 1638, a portion of this land was granted to Edward Hill, thus beginning the occupation of the Hill family. The original 450 acre plot was expanded due to marriage and gradual land acquisition. The land was then inherited by Edward Hill III in 1700, who allowed his son-in-law, John Carter (eldest son of Robert "King" Carter), to begin construction of the present mansion and outbuildings in 1723. The mansion, then called the "Great House" was completed in 1738 and was located close to the original house built by the Hills.
The house has been occupied by the Hill family since 1738 and has housed 11 generations.[5] It was at Shirley that Anne Hill Carter was born, and in 1793 married Light Horse Harry Lee in the mansion's parlor. The couple would later become parents to the famous Confederate General Robert E. Lee.
The house is largely in its original state and is owned, operated, and lived in by direct descendants of Edward Hill. The house was placed on the National Register in 1969 and as a National Historic Landmark in 1970. Though the house is still occupied, the bottom floor is open for touring daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.[6]
Exterior
The two story house is constructed the in the Georgian style with red brick walls and white trim boards on a square foundation. The front of the house contains a two floor balcony with Doric columns supporting a pediment. The entrance is located in the center, framed by a pair of long rectangular windows on either side. The hipped roof rests on an entablature containing dentil moldings. The roof is broken up by dormers and two large brick chimneys. In the center of the roof is a white pedestal supporting an overturned acorn.
The house is surrounded by several support buildings, including a two-story kitchen with living quarters, a two-story laundry with living quarters, a granary, an ice house, a large storehouse, and a dovecote. These buildings all frame the central house, lending to the majesty of the building.
References
- ^ "Shirley". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=872&ResourceType=Building. Retrieved 2008-06-27.
- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2008-04-15. http://www.nr.nps.gov/.
- ^ <http://www.tuttlesredbarn.net/index.html
- ^ http://www.shirleyplantation.com/shirley's_history.html
- ^ http://www.visitwilliamsburg.com/williamsburg-attractions/shirley-plantation/index.aspx
- ^ http://www.shirleyplantation.com/planyourvisit.html
Further reading
- Masson, Kathryn & Brooke, Steven; Historic Houses of Virginia: Great Plantation Houses, Mansions, and Country Places; Rizzoli International Publications; New York City, New York; 2006 ISBN 0-8478-2861-1
- Gleason, David King; Virginia Plantation Homes; Louisiana State Press; Baton Roughe, Louisiana; 1989 ISBN 0-8071-1570-3
- Roberts, Bruce; Plantation Homes of the James River; University of North Carolina Press; Chapel Hill, North Carolina; 1990 ISBN 0-8078-1879-8
External links
- Shirley Plantation Official Website
- James River Plantations, a National Park Service Discover Our Shared Heritage Travel Itinerary
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