The James River Plantations
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98 Harrisonburg 99 Live here. The Live creatively. James River Plantations Sunday, April 22, 2018 Monday, April 23, 2018 Tuesday, April 24, 2018 Photo courtesy of Westover Plantation Photo courtesy of Westover 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Open together, 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, numerous outbuildings and interiors of all three sites. In addition, afternoon tea will be offered by reservation at 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 is also open for At Bridgewater Retirement Community, creative energy makes us who touring. Berkeley, Shirley and Westover Plantations are Virginia and National Historic Landmarks, working plantations, private family homes and living links to our country’s past. we are. People were meant to create. We create art and music. We create families. We create lives. Retirement is not the end of creativity—it’s the beginning. Through classes, activities and outings, our residents immerse themselves in new experiences and refine old skills. You’ve spent your life creating good things. Join us in keeping the creative spirit alive. Hosted by the owners of Ticket information: $45 pp. www.vagar- Berkeley, Shirley and Westover Plantations denweek.org. Combo ticket allows access to the grounds and gardens at Berkeley and Contact information at tour sites guided house tours of the mansion’s first Simple pleasures. Abundant life. and for bus groups floor and basement; the grounds, gardens and eight original outbuildings at Shirley Berkeley Plantation: Plantation, with a self guided house tour Tammy Radcliff (888) 466-6018 of the first floor; the grounds and gardens [email protected] at Westover Plantation, as well as a tour of www.berkeleyplantation.com the downstairs interior, which is open espe- cially for Historic Garden Week. Addition- Shirley Plantation: ally, combo ticket includes a tour of nearby Westover Episcopal Church. Single-site ad- Lauren Carter (804) 829-5121 mission is available for $20 pp. [email protected] 1.800.419.9129 | 540.828.2540 www.shirleyplantation.com $15 pp. with advanced reservations 302 North Second Street from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday, Call today to learn how you can begin Bridgewater, VA 22812 Westover Plantation: Monday and Tuesday at Westover Church. Andrea Erda (804) 829-2882 To make a reservation, visit www.westo- living the happiest days of your life. brc-energy.org verepiscopalchurch.org/2018-garden- [email protected] week-box-lunch-orders and click on www.westover-plantation.com “HGW lunch.” 100 James River Plantations / Charles City James River Plantations / Charles City 101 Shirley Plantation On Sunday, April 22, Shirley will have III’s widow in 1814, Westover was sold Afternoon Tea with Mrs. Carter. Join 501 Shirley Plantation Road out of the Byrd family. In 1921 Mr. and Mrs. Carter on the garden terrace at Shirley Mrs. Richard Crane acquired the property. Plantation for afternoon tea complete with Shirley Plantation is home to 12 generations Today, their great-granddaughter and her tea sandwiches, pastries, and Shirley of one family who continue to own, oper- family make it their home and care for this Plantation jams. The cost is $35 pp. and ate and work Virginia’s first plantation. Es- historic landmark. Westover was featured does not include a tour. Seating at 3 p.m. tablished only six years after John Smith’s on the first Historic Garden Week in 1929. Purchase tickets at squareup.com/market/ settlement at Jamestown in 1607, Shirley Rob and Andrea Erda, owners. shirley-plantation-foundation/item/after- Plantation is the oldest family-owned busi- The Council of VMFA noon-tea-with-mrs-carter. ness in North America, dating to 1638. The Westover Episcopal Church present mansion was begun in 1723 as 6401 John Tyler Memorial Highway On April 22-24, Shirley Plantation a wedding present for Elizabeth Hill and Foundation will sell plants from a lo- John Carter, eldest son of Robert “King” Between 1611 and 1613, as colonists moved cal nursery on the garden terrace. Carter. The mother of Confederate General west from Jamestown, several small parish- Robert E. Lee, Anne Hill Carter, was born Directions to the tour area es were formed and eventually merged to and parking information: at Shirley and married Revolutionary War become Westover. The original Westover October 24–28, 2018 hero, “Light Horse Harry” Lee in the great Church was constructed between 1630 and Heading East into Richmond on I-64: From house parlor. Considered by many to be the 1637 on nearby Westover Plantation. In 64, take I-295 South around Richmond. most intact Colonial estate in America, the 1730, construction of the current church Take Exit #22A onto Scenic Rt. 5. great house is largely in its original state was completed at its site on Herring Creek, and features a three-floor, square-rigged 1.5 miles north of Westover plantation. The Heading West on I-64 from Williamsburg: or “flying” staircase in the main hall. Still end of support for the Episcopal Church by Take Exit #211 (Rt. 106 south). Follow to Rt. lived in by direct descendants of the first 5. From Williamsburg (scenic route): Take owner, Edward Hill, the guided tour of the public taxation at the start of the Revolu- Rt. 199 west in Williamsburg. Proceed to great house highlights stories from the Hill tionary War in 1776, followed by the War Rt. 5. Ample parking is available at all three Carter family, including several occasions of 1812, the prejudice against the Church plantations, as well as Westover Church. Bus when the property was saved by the hard as an English loyalist institution, and a de- groups should make prior arrangements for work, dedication and humanity of the Car- clining interest in religion culminated in a tickets and parking prior to arrival. ter women. Boxwood gardens, eight orig- period of desecration at Westover. For 30 years after 1803, Westover Church was inal Colonial outbuildings and command- Richmond | www.VMFA.museum | 804.340.1405 ing views of the James River complete this misused as a barn and services of the Prot- Ticket includes admission to the majestic setting. Owned by the Charles estant Episcopal Church of Virginia lapsed following 3 properties in Charles City, Hill Carter family. completely in Charles City County. In 1833, as well as the Westover Episcopal Church: however, religious services were revived Westover Plantation by the Reverend Parke Farley Berkeley, a Berkeley Plantation Westover Road missionary sent to Charles City County. At 7000 this time the church structure was repaired 12602 Harrison Landing Road William Byrd II, author, diarist, Colonial and restored, principally through the ef- leader and founder of the cities of Pe- forts of the Harrisons and Carters, owners Berkeley’s history begins in 1619 when settlers of Berkeley and Shirley plantations. Badly observed the first official Thanksgiving in tersburg and Richmond, built the house around 1730. Long considered a premier damaged by Federal troops during the Civil America. The birthplace of Benjamin Harri- War, Westover Church was once more re- son V, signer of the Declaration of Indepen- example of Georgian architecture in Amer- ica, the house’s special charm lies in its el- stored to service in 1867 and has been used dence and Governor of Virginia, the estate is faithfully ever since. Worshipers at Westo- also the birthplace of William Henry Harri- egant yet extremely simple form and per- fect proportions. Of special interest are the ver have included Presidents Washington, son, ninth United States President, and an- Jefferson, Harrison, Tyler and Theodore cestral home to Benjamin Harrison, the 23rd steepness of the roof, the tall chimneys in pairs at both ends of the main house, and Roosevelt as well as farmers, plantation president. During the Civil War General owners, and their slaves. George McClellan’s Union troops occupied the elaborate doorway, which continues the buildings and surrounding fields. While to be recognized as “the Westover door- at Berkeley, General Daniel Butterfield com- way” despite its adaptation to many other posed the familiar tune “Taps,” first played buildings and homes. Shaded by 150-year- by his bugler, O.W. Norton. The original old tulip poplars, Westover’s lawn offers To build a record of historic Georgian mansion, built in 1726 from brick a commanding view of the James River gardens in Virginia, the fired on the property, occupies a beautifully and majestic eagles soaring overhead. The Garden Club of Virginia offers two landscaped hilltop site overlooking the James grounds are still protected by wrought- River. It is furnished with a collection of iron gates hung by William Byrd in 1709 research Fellowships for graduate 18th century antiques, museum exhibits, ar- and considered the finest set of 18th-cen- students annually. Funded with tifacts and historical paintings. The gardens tury gates in the country. The interior, nor- and lawn extend a full quarter-mile from the mally closed to the public, is noted for the proceeds from Historic Garden front door of the mansion to the river banks. beautiful proportions of the rooms, ornate- Week, 2017 recipients were The 100-year-old boxwood garden and ten ly carved ceilings, the detail of the cornice Berkeley and Westover Plantations. acres of formal gardens are one of the most and stairway, and an unusual black man- extensive in Virginia.Owned by the Malcolm telpiece. After the death of William Byrd E. Jamieson family. 102 James River Plantations / Charles City 103 VirginiaGreenLawnCare.com Tuesday, April 24, 2018 Lynchburg10 a.m.