Bachelor's Hope (Centreville, Maryland)
Encyclopedia
Bachelor's Hope is a historic house in Centreville
, Maryland
. Built between 1798 and 1815, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places
in 1984.
and frame
; the gable
ends are of brick, while the sides are frame. The five-bay
structure is one-and-one-half stories tall, and two rooms deep. The house has a single chimney
, centered
on the gable, at each end; each chimney is fed by double fireplace
s in each gable wall. All of the brick construction, including the foundation, was laid in five-course common bond.
The house has its entrance in the central bay; unusually, the door is flanked by 2/2 sidelight
s on each side. The rest of the main facade
, which faces south towards the old road to Queenstown
, is arranged symmetrically
; on the first floor, two 9/6 sash window
s may be found on either side of the door. Above these are three gable-roofed dormer
s with 6/6 sash. The facade also has a modern, three-bay porch. The back facade of the house is similar to the front; the paneled door in the center bay has no sidelights, but is flanked on each side by 6/6 windows. Three gable-roofed 6/6/ sash dormers sit above the central door.
The house's interior is an unusual variation on the central hall Georgian
plan in which each of the rooms differs in size from the others. Both front rooms contain fireplaces, each centered on the gable wall. The one in the southeast room retains a mantel
from the early nineteenth century and fine examples of an interior cornice
and raised paneling below the south windows; the baseboard
and chair rail are all original. Similar trappings - baseboard, chair rail, and paneling - remain in the southwest room as well. The room to the northwest, by comparison, seems plain; its mantel dates to the late nineteenth century, as does its window trim. The northeast room has been modernized, and now serves as a kitchen. To the rear of the first story is a hall, adjoining which is an enclosed winder stair; this gives access to the second floor. Nearly all of the trim on the second story is original, including window and door architrave
s, fireplace surrounds, and raised panel doors.
. The technology used to build it, combining brick gable ends and frame sides, is rarely seen today in surviving buildings. The double pile floor plan is unusual for a house of this size, as is the rarely seen variation on the Georgian central-hall plan. Adding to its historic value, the structure is fairly close to its original condition, some alterations to the first floor notwithstanding. Much of the early fabric remains intact; in addition to the above-noted items may be seen original horizontal beaded wainscoting in the northwest room and the first floor's rear hall, and all of the original woodwork on the second story.
Centreville, Maryland
Centreville is an incorporated town in Queen Anne's County, Maryland, United States. Incorporated in 1794, it is the county seat of Queen Anne's County. The population was 1,970 at the 2000 census. The ZIP code is 21617 and the area code is 410. The local telephone exchange is 758...
, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
. Built between 1798 and 1815, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1984.
Architecture
The house was built of a combination of brickBrick
A brick is a block of ceramic material used in masonry construction, usually laid using various kinds of mortar. It has been regarded as one of the longest lasting and strongest building materials used throughout history.-History:...
and frame
Framing (construction)
Framing, in construction known as light-frame construction, is a building technique based around structural members, usually called studs, which provide a stable frame to which interior and exterior wall coverings are attached, and covered by a roof comprising horizontal ceiling joists and sloping...
; the gable
Gable
A gable is the generally triangular portion of a wall between the edges of a sloping roof. The shape of the gable and how it is detailed depends on the structural system being used and aesthetic concerns. Thus the type of roof enclosing the volume dictates the shape of the gable...
ends are of brick, while the sides are frame. The five-bay
Bay (architecture)
A bay is a unit of form in architecture. This unit is defined as the zone between the outer edges of an engaged column, pilaster, or post; or within a window frame, doorframe, or vertical 'bas relief' wall form.-Defining elements:...
structure is one-and-one-half stories tall, and two rooms deep. The house has a single chimney
Chimney
A chimney is a structure for venting hot flue gases or smoke from a boiler, stove, furnace or fireplace to the outside atmosphere. Chimneys are typically vertical, or as near as possible to vertical, to ensure that the gases flow smoothly, drawing air into the combustion in what is known as the...
, centered
on the gable, at each end; each chimney is fed by double fireplace
Fireplace
A fireplace is an architectural structure to contain a fire for heating and, especially historically, for cooking. A fire is contained in a firebox or firepit; a chimney or other flue allows gas and particulate exhaust to escape...
s in each gable wall. All of the brick construction, including the foundation, was laid in five-course common bond.
The house has its entrance in the central bay; unusually, the door is flanked by 2/2 sidelight
Sidelight
A sidelight is a window, usually with a vertical emphasis, that flanks a door. Sidelights are narrow, usually stationary and found immediately adjacent doorways...
s on each side. The rest of the main facade
Facade
A facade or façade is generally one exterior side of a building, usually, but not always, the front. The word comes from the French language, literally meaning "frontage" or "face"....
, which faces south towards the old road to Queenstown
Queenstown, Maryland
Queenstown is a town in Queen Anne's County, Maryland, United States. The population was 617 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Queenstown is located at ....
, is arranged symmetrically
Symmetry
Symmetry generally conveys two primary meanings. The first is an imprecise sense of harmonious or aesthetically pleasing proportionality and balance; such that it reflects beauty or perfection...
; on the first floor, two 9/6 sash window
Sash window
A sash window or hung sash window is made of one or more movable panels or "sashes" that form a frame to hold panes of glass, which are often separated from other panes by narrow muntins...
s may be found on either side of the door. Above these are three gable-roofed dormer
Dormer
A dormer is a structural element of a building that protrudes from the plane of a sloping roof surface. Dormers are used, either in original construction or as later additions, to create usable space in the roof of a building by adding headroom and usually also by enabling addition of windows.Often...
s with 6/6 sash. The facade also has a modern, three-bay porch. The back facade of the house is similar to the front; the paneled door in the center bay has no sidelights, but is flanked on each side by 6/6 windows. Three gable-roofed 6/6/ sash dormers sit above the central door.
The house's interior is an unusual variation on the central hall Georgian
Georgian architecture
Georgian architecture is the name given in most English-speaking countries to the set of architectural styles current between 1720 and 1840. It is eponymous for the first four British monarchs of the House of Hanover—George I of Great Britain, George II of Great Britain, George III of the United...
plan in which each of the rooms differs in size from the others. Both front rooms contain fireplaces, each centered on the gable wall. The one in the southeast room retains a mantel
Mantel
Mantel is a municipality in the district of Neustadt in Bavaria in Germany....
from the early nineteenth century and fine examples of an interior cornice
Cornice
Cornice molding is generally any horizontal decorative molding that crowns any building or furniture element: the cornice over a door or window, for instance, or the cornice around the edge of a pedestal. A simple cornice may be formed just with a crown molding.The function of the projecting...
and raised paneling below the south windows; the baseboard
Baseboard
In architecture, a baseboard is a board covering the lowest part of an interior wall...
and chair rail are all original. Similar trappings - baseboard, chair rail, and paneling - remain in the southwest room as well. The room to the northwest, by comparison, seems plain; its mantel dates to the late nineteenth century, as does its window trim. The northeast room has been modernized, and now serves as a kitchen. To the rear of the first story is a hall, adjoining which is an enclosed winder stair; this gives access to the second floor. Nearly all of the trim on the second story is original, including window and door architrave
Architrave
An architrave is the lintel or beam that rests on the capitals of the columns. It is an architectural element in Classical architecture.-Classical architecture:...
s, fireplace surrounds, and raised panel doors.
Significance
Bachelor's Hope is considered important because of the unusual features combined in its design; it is believed to be a unique house on the central Eastern Shore of MarylandEastern Shore of Maryland
The Eastern Shore of Maryland is a territorial part of the U.S. state of Maryland that lies predominately on the east side of the Chesapeake Bay and consists of nine counties. The origin of term Eastern Shore was derived to distinguish a territorial part of the State of Maryland from the Western...
. The technology used to build it, combining brick gable ends and frame sides, is rarely seen today in surviving buildings. The double pile floor plan is unusual for a house of this size, as is the rarely seen variation on the Georgian central-hall plan. Adding to its historic value, the structure is fairly close to its original condition, some alterations to the first floor notwithstanding. Much of the early fabric remains intact; in addition to the above-noted items may be seen original horizontal beaded wainscoting in the northwest room and the first floor's rear hall, and all of the original woodwork on the second story.
External links
- Bachelor's Hope, Queen Anne's County, including photo from 1980, at Maryland Historical Trust