Shirley Plantation
Encyclopedia
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 one of the oldest family-owned businesses in North America, dating back to 1614 with operations starting in 1638. The plantation was added to the National Register
on 1969-10-01 and declared a National Historic Landmark
on 1970-04-15.
Thomas West
, 3rd Baron De la Warr
and were 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 acres (1.8 km²) plot was expanded due to marriage and gradual land acquisition. The land passed to Edward Hill II who was owner during Bacon's Rebellion
in 1676. Edward Hill II sided with Governor William Berkeley, and Bacon's rebels proceeded to plunder Edward's home. The land was then inherited by Edward Hill III in 1700. Edward Hill III's only son Edward Hill IV, died at 16 of consumption, leaving no male heirs. The property reverted to Edward Hill III's youngest daughter Elizabeth who married John Carter (eldest son of Robert "King" Carter
), in October 1723. Construction of the present mansion and outbuildings in began c. 1723. The mansion, 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 Carter family since 1738 and has housed 8 generations. It was at Shirley that Ann Hill Carter was born, and on June 18, 1793 married Henry "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 I. The house was placed on the National Register in 1969 and as a National Historic Landmark
in 1970. The upper floors are occupied by members of the eleventh generation of the Hill Carter family, while the bottom floor is open for touring daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The three story "Great House" is constructed in the Georgian style with red brick walls and white trim boards on a square foundation. The house has no actual front door, as both the riverside and courtyard side entrances contain a two story portico
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 pineapple
.
The house is surrounded by several support buildings, including a two-story kitchen with living quarters, a two-story laundry with living quarters, a smokehouse, a stable building, an ice house, a large storehouse, and a dovecote
. These buildings all frame the central house, lending to the majesty of the building and creating a Queen Anne Forecourt.
Estate (house)
An estate comprises the houses and outbuildings and supporting farmland and woods that surround the gardens and grounds of a very large property, such as a country house or mansion. It is the modern term for a manor, but lacks the latter's now abolished jurisdictional authority...
located on the north bank of the James River
James River
The James River may refer to:Rivers in the United States and their namesakes* James River * James River , North Dakota, South Dakota* James River * James River * James River...
in Charles City County
Charles City County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 6,926 people, 2,670 households, and 1,975 families residing in the county. The population density was 38 people per square mile . There were 2,895 housing units at an average density of 16 per square mile...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. It is located on State Route 5, a scenic byway which runs between the independent cities of Richmond
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
and Williamsburg
Williamsburg, Virginia
Williamsburg is an independent city located on the Virginia Peninsula in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia, USA. As of the 2010 Census, the city had an estimated population of 14,068. It is bordered by James City County and York County, and is an independent city...
. Shirley Plantation is the oldest active plantation
Plantation
A plantation is a long artificially established forest, farm or estate, where crops are grown for sale, often in distant markets rather than for local on-site consumption...
in Virginia and is one of the oldest family-owned businesses in North America, dating back to 1614 with operations starting in 1638. The plantation was added to the National Register
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...
on 1969-10-01 and declared a National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
on 1970-04-15.
History
The lands of Shirley Plantation were first settled in 1613 by SirSir
Sir is an honorific used as a title , or as a courtesy title to address a man without using his given or family name in many English speaking cultures...
Thomas West
Thomas West, 3rd Baron De La Warr
Thomas West, 3rd and 12th Baron De La Warr was the Englishman after whom the bay, the river, and, consequently, an American Indian people and U.S. state, all later called "Delaware", were named....
, 3rd Baron De la Warr
Earl De La Warr
Earl De La Warr is a title created in the Peerage of Great Britain in 1761.In the United States, Thomas West, 3rd baron is often named in history books simply as Lord Delaware. He served as governor of the Jamestown Colony, and the Delaware Bay was named after him...
and were 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
Edward Hill (politician)
Colonel Edward Hill was a Virginia farmer, soldier and politician. He was Speaker of the Virginia House of Burgesses three different times . He declared himself acting governor of Maryland while leading an expedition to put down Richard Ingle's 1646 rebellion, ceding to the proper governor,...
, thus beginning the occupation of the Hill family. The original 450 acres (1.8 km²) plot was expanded due to marriage and gradual land acquisition. The land passed to Edward Hill II who was owner during Bacon's Rebellion
Bacon's Rebellion
Bacon's Rebellion was an uprising in 1676 in the Virginia Colony in North America, led by a 29-year-old planter, Nathaniel Bacon.About a thousand Virginians rose because they resented Virginia Governor William Berkeley's friendly policies towards the Native Americans...
in 1676. Edward Hill II sided with Governor William Berkeley, and Bacon's rebels proceeded to plunder Edward's home. The land was then inherited by Edward Hill III in 1700. Edward Hill III's only son Edward Hill IV, died at 16 of consumption, leaving no male heirs. The property reverted to Edward Hill III's youngest daughter Elizabeth who married John Carter (eldest son of Robert "King" Carter
Robert Carter I
Robert "King" Carter , of Lancaster County, was a colonist in Virginia and became one of the wealthiest men in the colonies....
), in October 1723. Construction of the present mansion and outbuildings in began c. 1723. The mansion, 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 Carter family since 1738 and has housed 8 generations. It was at Shirley that Ann Hill Carter was born, and on June 18, 1793 married Henry "Light Horse Harry" Lee in the mansion's parlor. The couple would later become parents to the famous Confederate General Robert E. Lee
Robert E. Lee
Robert Edward Lee was a career military officer who is best known for having commanded the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia in the American Civil War....
.
The house is largely in its original state and is owned, operated, and lived in by direct descendants of Edward Hill I. The house was placed on the National Register in 1969 and as a National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
in 1970. The upper floors are occupied by members of the eleventh generation of the Hill Carter family, while the bottom floor is open for touring daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Exterior
Portico
A portico is a porch leading to the entrance of a building, or extended as a colonnade, with a roof structure over a walkway, supported by columns or enclosed by walls...
with Doric columns supporting a pediment
Pediment
A pediment is a classical architectural element consisting of the triangular section found above the horizontal structure , typically supported by columns. The gable end of the pediment is surrounded by the cornice moulding...
. 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
Entablature
An entablature refers to the superstructure of moldings and bands which lie horizontally above columns, resting on their capitals. Entablatures are major elements of classical architecture, and are commonly divided into the architrave , the frieze ,...
containing dentil
Dentil
In classical architecture a dentil is a small block used as a repeating ornament in the bedmould of a cornice.The Roman architect Vitruvius In classical architecture a dentil (from Lat. dens, a tooth) is a small block used as a repeating ornament in the bedmould of a cornice.The Roman architect...
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 pineapple
Pineapple
Pineapple is the common name for a tropical plant and its edible fruit, which is actually a multiple fruit consisting of coalesced berries. It was given the name pineapple due to its resemblance to a pine cone. The pineapple is by far the most economically important plant in the Bromeliaceae...
.
The house is surrounded by several support buildings, including a two-story kitchen with living quarters, a two-story laundry with living quarters, a smokehouse, a stable building, an ice house, a large storehouse, and a dovecote
Dovecote
A dovecote or dovecot is a structure intended to house pigeons or doves. Dovecotes may be square or circular free-standing structures or built into the end of a house or barn. They generally contain pigeonholes for the birds to nest. Pigeons and doves were an important food source historically in...
. These buildings all frame the central house, lending to the majesty of the building and creating a Queen Anne Forecourt.
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