Loudoun House
Encyclopedia
The Loudoun House, located at 209 Castlewood Dr. in Lexington, Ky., is considered one of the largest and finest examples of Gothic Revival architecture in Kentucky. Designed by New York architect Alexander Jackson Davis
, the house was built in 1852 for Francis Key Hunt (1817–1879), who was named after his mother's cousin, Francis Scott Key
.
The home was built on 50 acres of land given to Hunt and his wife, Julia Warfield, by her parents upon their marriage. Following the death of his father during a cholera epidemic, Hunt inherited more than a million dollars and set to building the Loudoun House. Inspired by the W. C. H. Waddell mansion on Murray Hill in New York City, Hunt wrote to A. J. Davis, who designed a castellated Gothic Revival villa for Hunt after a brief correspondence. Hunt hired Lexington builder John McMurtry
to construct the home. The project was expected to cost $10,000, but wound up costing three times that amount and taking four years to complete. He named the home "Loudoun" in honor of the song "The Bells of Loudon", his wife's favorite.
Loudoun House is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
. It is one of the five surviving castellated Gothic Revival villas designed by Davis in the United States.
The house currently houses the Lexington Art League.
Alexander Jackson Davis
Alexander Jackson Davis, or A. J. Davis , was one of the most successful and influential American architects of his generation, in particular his association with the Gothic Revival style....
, the house was built in 1852 for Francis Key Hunt (1817–1879), who was named after his mother's cousin, Francis Scott Key
Francis Scott Key
Francis Scott Key was an American lawyer, author, and amateur poet, from Georgetown, who wrote the lyrics to the United States' national anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner".-Life:...
.
The home was built on 50 acres of land given to Hunt and his wife, Julia Warfield, by her parents upon their marriage. Following the death of his father during a cholera epidemic, Hunt inherited more than a million dollars and set to building the Loudoun House. Inspired by the W. C. H. Waddell mansion on Murray Hill in New York City, Hunt wrote to A. J. Davis, who designed a castellated Gothic Revival villa for Hunt after a brief correspondence. Hunt hired Lexington builder John McMurtry
John McMurtry (architect)
John McMurtry was an 19th century American builder and architect who worked in Lexington, Kentucky designing a number of notable buildings, several of which are listed on the National Register of Historic Places....
to construct the home. The project was expected to cost $10,000, but wound up costing three times that amount and taking four years to complete. He named the home "Loudoun" in honor of the song "The Bells of Loudon", his wife's favorite.
Loudoun House is listed on 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...
. It is one of the five surviving castellated Gothic Revival villas designed by Davis in the United States.
The house currently houses the Lexington Art League.