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107 James River Open together for the first time in more Plantationsthan a decade, three historic properties and a church that dates back to the 1630s celebrate Historic Garden Week on three consecutive days. A special combo ticket allows access to the extensive grounds and numerous outbuildings of all sites, the interior of Westover, as well as afternoon teas at Berkeley and Shirley. All are located along scenic Route 5 in Charles City between Richmond and Williamsburg. In addition, lunch is offered on all three tour days at Westover Episcopal Church, which Sunday, Monday is also open for touring. Berkeley, Shirley and Tuesday and Westover Plantations are Virginia and National Historic Landmarks, working April 19, 20 and 21, 2015 plantations, private family homes and living 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. links to our country’s past. Photo courtesy of Lauren Murphy Shirley Plantation Hosted by the owners of Berkeley, Shirley self guided house tour including the 1st floor, and Westover Plantations 2nd floor landing and porticos; the grounds and gardens at Westover Plantation as well Contact information at Tour Sites as a tour of the downstairs interior, which and for Bus Groups: __________________________ is open especially for Historic Garden Week. Berkeley Plantation: Additionally, combo ticket includes a tour of Tammy Radcliff nearby Westover Episcopal Church. Single (888) 466-6018 or site admission is available for $20 pp. [email protected] $15 pp with advanced reservations www.berkeleyplantation.com from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday, Shirley Plantation: Monday and Tuesday at Westover Church. Randy Carter To make a reservation, visit westoverepisco- (804) 829-5121 or palchurch.org/2015-garden-week-box- [email protected] lunch-orders/ and click on “HGW lunch” www.shirleyplantation.com and follow prompts. Westover Plantation: Directions: Heading East into Richmond Andrea Erda on I-64: From 64, take I-295 South around (804) 829-2882 or Richmond. Take Exit #22A onto Scenic Rt. [email protected] 5. Heading West on I-64 from Williamsburg: www.westover-plantation.com Take Exit #211 (Rt. 106 south). Follow to Rt. 5. From Williamsburg (scenic route): __________________________Tour Information Take Rt. 199 to Monticello Rd. exit and fol- Tickets: $45 pp. www.vagardenweek.org. low it west until it merges with Rt. 5 west Combo ticket allows access to the grounds toward Richmond. and gardens at Berkeley and guided house Ample parking is available at all three tours of the mansion’s 1st floor and base- plantations, as well as Westover Church. ment; the grounds, gardens and eight origi- Bus groups should make prior arrangements nal outbuildings at Shirley Plantation with a for tickets and parking prior to arrival. James River Plantations 108 On Sunday, April 19, Shirley will have Benjamin Harrison V, signer of the Declara- Afternoon Tea with Mrs. Carter. Join tion of Independence and three-time gover- Mrs. Carter in the boxwood gardens at Shir- nor of Virginia. The estate is the birthplace ley Plantation for afternoon tea complete of William Henry Harrison, ninth president with tea sandwiches, pastries, and Shirley of the United States, and ancestral home of Plantation jams. The cost is $30 per person his grandson, Benjamin Harrison, the 23rd and does not include a tour. 2 p.m. and 4 president. Taps was composed here when p.m. Email Mrs. Carter at laurennmurphy@ General McClellan headquartered 140,000 yahoo.com to make reservations. Union troops on the property for two On April 19-21, Shirley Plantation months in 1862. The original Georgian Foundation will be selling plants from a mansion, built in 1726 of brick fired on the local nursery on the garden terrace. plantation, occupies a landscaped hilltop site overlooking the historic James River. On Monday, April 20, Berkeley will offer The date of the building and the initials an Afternoon Tea. Sip tea and enjoy of the owners, Benjamin Harrison IV and finger sandwiches, scones and pastries in the his wife Anne, appear in a datestone over midst of the beautiful spring gardens at his- a side door. The mansion is said to be the toric Berkeley Plantation. Includes guided oldest three-story brick house in Virginia house tour and self-guided garden tour. 2:00 that can prove its date and the first with a p.m. and 4:00 p.m. The cost is $30 per person. pediment roof. Five terraced gardens lead- Call 888-466-6018 to reserve your space. ing from the house to the river were dug by Evening reception at Westover on Tues- hand before the Revolutionary War. Many day, April 21, for $100 pp. Event sells hundred-year-old trees grace the restored out at 50 people. For more information and boxwood garden offering breathtaking to make reservations (804) 829-2882 or vistas of the James River. On the adjacent [email protected]. farmland, sheep graze in the distant rolling hills on this nearly 1000-acre plantation. The Malcolm E. Jamieson family, owners. Ticket includes admission to the following 3 properties in Charles City, as well as the Westover Episcopal Church: Shirley Plantation 501 Shirley Plantation Road Berkeley Plantation Shirley Plantation is home to eleven gener- 12602 Harrison Landing Road ations of one family who continue to own, operate and work Virginia’s first plantation. The site of the first official Thanksgiving Established only six years after John Smith’s in 1619, Berkeley is also the birthplace of settlement at Jamestown in 1607, Shir- garden week 2015.qxd 1/3/2015 8:03 PM Page 1 GARDENS ESTATES ART ANTIQUES WINE FOOD HUMOR Ash Lawn-Highland, Virginia Majorelle Garden, Morocco DOGS CONSERVATION HORSES FISHING SAILING SHOOTING BOATING HUNTING Hampton Court Palace, England Brooklyn Botanic Garden, New York 800.734.2980 TheVirginiaSportsman.com 109 James River Plantations ley Plantation is the oldest family-owned and her family make it their home and care business in North America, dating to 1638. for this historic landmark. Westover was The present mansion was begun in 1723 as featured on the first Historic Garden Week a wedding present for Elizabeth Hill and in 1929. Rob and Andrea Erda, owners. John Carter, eldest son of Robert “King” Carter. The mother of Confederate General Robert E. Lee, Anne Hill Carter, was born Westover Episcopal Church, at Shirley and married Revolutionary War 6401 John Tyler Memorial Hwy hero “Light Horse Harry” Lee in the Great House parlor. Considered by many to be the Between 1611 and 1613, as colonists most intact colonial estate in America, the moved west from Jamestown, several Great House is largely in its original state small parishes were formed and eventually and features a three-floor, square-rigged or merged to become Westover. The original “flying” staircase in the main hall. Still lived Westover Church was constructed between in by direct descendants of the first owner, 1630 and 1637 on nearby Westover plan- Edward Hill, the guided tour of the Great tation. In 1730 construction of the current House highlights stories from the Hill Car- church was completed at its site on Her- ter family including several occasions when ring Creek, 1.5 miles north of Westover the property was saved by the hard work, plantation. The ending of support for the dedication and humanity of the Carter Episcopal Church by public taxation at the women. Formal gardens, eight original co- start of the Revolutionary War in 1776, lonial outbuildings and commanding views followed by the War of 1812, the prejudice of the James River complete this majestic against the Church as an English loyalist setting. Gift Shop on site. The Charles Hill institution, and a declining interest in re- Carter family, owners. ligion culminated in a period of desecra- tion at Westover. For 30 years after 1803, Westover Church was misused as a barn and services of the Protestant Episcopal Westover Plantation Church of Virginia lapsed completely in 7000 Westover Road Charles City County. In 1833, however, religious services were revived by the Rev- William Byrd II, author, diarist, colonial erend Parke Farley Berkeley, a missionary leader and founder of the cities of Peters- sent to Charles City County. At this time burg and Richmond, built the house, one the church structure was repaired and re- of the finest examples of Georgian archi- stored, principally through the efforts of the tecture in America, around 1730. The Harrisons and Carters, owners of Berkeley house’s special charm lies in its elegant yet and Shirley plantations. Badly damaged by extremely simple form and perfect propor- Federal troops during the Civil War, Westo- tions. Of interest are the steepness of the ver Church was once more restored to ser- roof, the tall chimneys in pairs at both vice in 1867 and has been used faithfully ends of the main house, and the elaborate ever since. Worshippers at Westover have doorway, which continues to be recog- included Presidents Washington, Jefferson, nized as “the Westover doorway” despite Harrison, Tyler and Theodore Roosevelt its adaptation to many other buildings and as well as farmers, plantation owners and homes. Shaded by 150-year-old tulip pop- their slaves. lars, Westover’s lawn offers a command- ing view of the James River and majestic eagles soaring overhead. The grounds are still protected by wrought-iron gates hung Key to HGW Tour Symbols by William Byrd in 1709 and known to be the finest set of 18th-century gates in the walking tour garden emphasis country. William Byrd II’s tombstone, in the center of the walled garden, gives an history focus lunch offered interesting account of his life and provides an insight into the values of his time.