Belmont Manor House
Encyclopedia
Belmont Manor House, formally known as Belmont Plantation, is a two-story, five-part Federal
mansion in Loudoun County, Virginia
, built between the years of 1799-1802 by Ludwell Lee (1760-1836), son of Richard Henry Lee
. The land surrounding the mansion, the Belmont property, was handed down to his first wife (also his first cousin), Flora Lee, from their grandfather, Thomas Lee.
Located in Ashburn, Virginia
, the Belmont Manor House and property have been owned since 1995 by Toll Brothers, Inc.. It uses the Manor House as the clubhouse in a gated golf community. The property and house are listed in the National Register of Historic Places
.
in 1812. The President was said to use the plantation as a safe haven throughout the War of 1812
after the British attacked Washington, D.C.
Another figure who visited the plantation was General and diplomat La Fayette, who came to the Manor home to visit Ludwell Lee in 1825.
The Manor home is located at the highest point in eastern Loudoun County, with views of the surrounding hills and mountain ranges of the approaches to the nearby town of Leesburg, Virginia
and the Blue Ridge Mountains
.
In 1836 Margaret Mercer purchased the Belmont home from Lee; she intended to adapt it as a women's Christian school. Afterward the home was bought by Kansas
governor Frederick Staunton and the McLean
family. The McLean family is notable as the owners of the Hope Diamond
.
In 1915, Edward B. McLean, son of the publisher of the Washington Post. acquired the property and built a horse stable and training track for Thoroughbred
s. McLean dispersed his bloodstock in June of 1931 and in December the estate was sold to Patrick J. Hurley
and his wife. Hurley is notable as the Secretary of War under President Herbert Hoover
. In 1963, the IBM Corporation bought the property and adapted it as their management retreat center. By the late 1980s, the house had fallen into grave disrepair and required major renovation, with extensive damage to the inside.
In 1995, Toll Brothers, Inc. purchased the property to build a golf community gated community
around it, while using the renovated Manor home as a clubhouse. It received an extensive addition to incorporate restaurants and the club house, all within the overall architectural theme and style of the original home. Within the original home, despite the damage sustained from neglect, various bas relief artworks and plasterwork remained in place. The house was restored to its original quality.
. This house was traditionally home to a “rich equestrian tradition” — steeplechase racing, and fox hunting.
The main entrance is encased with a portico with two Doric columns on either side, elaborate and decorative detail throughout. The first floor consists of a large center hall, the foyer, which is encased on either side by two large reception rooms that are all decorated with paneled wainscoting. The reception rooms on the East and West side both have their own fireplace with mantels that said to be gifts to Lafayette in 1825. The stairway is an ornamental structure in the center hall section that has a “molded handrail and thin, square balusters, three to a step.” On the second floor, there are bedrooms with ornamental federal style woodwork, along with a fancy bath. The house has been restored to its appearance in the beginning of the 19th century. It was remodeled once in 1907.
The only outbuilding of the Manor house that is still standing today is a small, stone smokehouse. A cemetery is located on the west side of the manor house and holds the grave of Ludwell Lee.
Federal architecture
Federal-style architecture is the name for the classicizing architecture built in the United States between c. 1780 and 1830, and particularly from 1785 to 1815. This style shares its name with its era, the Federal Period. The name Federal style is also used in association with furniture design...
mansion in Loudoun County, Virginia
Loudoun County, Virginia
Loudoun County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia, and is part of the Washington Metropolitan Area. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the county is estimated to be home to 312,311 people, an 84 percent increase over the 2000 figure of 169,599. That increase makes the county the fourth...
, built between the years of 1799-1802 by Ludwell Lee (1760-1836), son of Richard Henry Lee
Richard Henry Lee
Richard Henry Lee was an American statesman from Virginia best known for the motion in the Second Continental Congress calling for the colonies' independence from Great Britain. He was a signatory to the Articles of Confederation and his famous resolution of June 1776 led to the United States...
. The land surrounding the mansion, the Belmont property, was handed down to his first wife (also his first cousin), Flora Lee, from their grandfather, Thomas Lee.
Located in Ashburn, Virginia
Ashburn, Virginia
Ashburn, Virginia is a census-designated place located in Loudoun County, Virginia, northwest of Washington, D.C., and is part of the Washington Metropolitan Area...
, the Belmont Manor House and property have been owned since 1995 by Toll Brothers, Inc.. It uses the Manor House as the clubhouse in a gated golf community. The property and house are listed in 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...
.
History
The plantation has been visited by many notable figures in history including President James MadisonJames Madison
James Madison, Jr. was an American statesman and political theorist. He was the fourth President of the United States and is hailed as the “Father of the Constitution” for being the primary author of the United States Constitution and at first an opponent of, and then a key author of the United...
in 1812. The President was said to use the plantation as a safe haven throughout the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
after the British attacked Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
Another figure who visited the plantation was General and diplomat La Fayette, who came to the Manor home to visit Ludwell Lee in 1825.
The Manor home is located at the highest point in eastern Loudoun County, with views of the surrounding hills and mountain ranges of the approaches to the nearby town of Leesburg, Virginia
Leesburg, Virginia
Leesburg is a historic town in, and county seat of, Loudoun County, Virginia, United States of America. Leesburg is located west-northwest of Washington, D.C. along the base of the Catoctin Mountain and adjacent to the Potomac River. Its population according the 2010 Census is 42,616...
and the Blue Ridge Mountains
Blue Ridge Mountains
The Blue Ridge Mountains are a physiographic province of the larger Appalachian Mountains range. This province consists of northern and southern physiographic regions, which divide near the Roanoke River gap. The mountain range is located in the eastern United States, starting at its southern-most...
.
In 1836 Margaret Mercer purchased the Belmont home from Lee; she intended to adapt it as a women's Christian school. Afterward the home was bought by Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
governor Frederick Staunton and the McLean
Evalyn Walsh McLean
Evalyn Walsh McLean was an American mining heiress and socialite who was famous for being the last private owner of the Hope Diamond as well as another famous diamond, the Star of the East...
family. The McLean family is notable as the owners of the Hope Diamond
Hope Diamond
The Hope Diamond, also known as "Le bleu de France" or "Le Bijou du Roi", is a large, , deep-blue diamond, now housed in the Smithsonian Natural History Museum in Washington, D.C. It is blue to the naked eye because of trace amounts of boron within its crystal structure, but exhibits red...
.
In 1915, Edward B. McLean, son of the publisher of the Washington Post. acquired the property and built a horse stable and training track for Thoroughbred
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
s. McLean dispersed his bloodstock in June of 1931 and in December the estate was sold to Patrick J. Hurley
Patrick J. Hurley
Patrick Jay Hurley was an American soldier, statesman, and diplomat....
and his wife. Hurley is notable as the Secretary of War under President Herbert Hoover
Herbert Hoover
Herbert Clark Hoover was the 31st President of the United States . Hoover was originally a professional mining engineer and author. As the United States Secretary of Commerce in the 1920s under Presidents Warren Harding and Calvin Coolidge, he promoted partnerships between government and business...
. In 1963, the IBM Corporation bought the property and adapted it as their management retreat center. By the late 1980s, the house had fallen into grave disrepair and required major renovation, with extensive damage to the inside.
In 1995, Toll Brothers, Inc. purchased the property to build a golf community gated community
Gated community
In its modern form, a gated community is a form of residential community or housing estate containing strictly-controlled entrances for pedestrians, bicycles, and automobiles, and often characterized by a closed perimeter of walls and fences. Gated communities usually consist of small residential...
around it, while using the renovated Manor home as a clubhouse. It received an extensive addition to incorporate restaurants and the club house, all within the overall architectural theme and style of the original home. Within the original home, despite the damage sustained from neglect, various bas relief artworks and plasterwork remained in place. The house was restored to its original quality.
Appearance
The Belmont Manor house sits on the peak of the plantation property and one of the highest points in eastern Loudoun County. It has many panoramic views of the countryside and the Blue Ridge MountainsBlue Ridge Mountains
The Blue Ridge Mountains are a physiographic province of the larger Appalachian Mountains range. This province consists of northern and southern physiographic regions, which divide near the Roanoke River gap. The mountain range is located in the eastern United States, starting at its southern-most...
. This house was traditionally home to a “rich equestrian tradition” — steeplechase racing, and fox hunting.
The main entrance is encased with a portico with two Doric columns on either side, elaborate and decorative detail throughout. The first floor consists of a large center hall, the foyer, which is encased on either side by two large reception rooms that are all decorated with paneled wainscoting. The reception rooms on the East and West side both have their own fireplace with mantels that said to be gifts to Lafayette in 1825. The stairway is an ornamental structure in the center hall section that has a “molded handrail and thin, square balusters, three to a step.” On the second floor, there are bedrooms with ornamental federal style woodwork, along with a fancy bath. The house has been restored to its appearance in the beginning of the 19th century. It was remodeled once in 1907.
The only outbuilding of the Manor house that is still standing today is a small, stone smokehouse. A cemetery is located on the west side of the manor house and holds the grave of Ludwell Lee.