95 The James River PlantationsSunday, April 23, 2017 Monday, April 24, 2017 Tuesday, April 25, 2017 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m Photo courtesy of Westover Plantation Photo courtesy of Westover 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 and numerous outbuildings of all sites and the interior of Westover. 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 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. Hosted by the owners of Ticket information: $45 pp. www.vagard- Berkeley, Shirley and Westover Plantations enweek.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 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 of Tammy Radcliff (888) 466-6018 the first floor; the grounds and gardens at [email protected] Westover Plantation, as well as a tour of the www.berkeleyplantation.com downstairs interior, which is open especial- ly for Historic Garden Week. Additional- Shirley Plantation: ly, 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] www.shirleyplantation.com $15 pp with advanced reservations from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday, Westover Plantation: Monday and Tuesday at Westover Church. Andrea Erda (804) 829-2882 To make a reservation, visit www.westo- verepiscopalchurch.org/2017-garden-week- [email protected] box-lunch-orders and click on “HGW www.westover-plantation.com lunch.” Call Kathy Whitbeck at (804) 829-2488 for additional information. 96 James River Plantations / Charles City and the first with a pediment roof. Five On Sunday, April 23, Shirley will have terraced gardens leading from the house Afternoon Tea with Mrs. Carter. to the river were dug by hand before the Join Mrs. Carter on the garden terrace at Revolutionary War. Many 100-year-old Shirley Plantation for afternoon tea com- trees grace the restored boxwood garden plete with tea sandwiches, pastries, and offering breathtaking vistas of the James Shirley Plantation jams. The cost is $35 pp River. On the adjacent farmland, sheep and does not include a tour. Seating at 3 graze in the distant rolling hills on this p.m. Email Mrs. Carter at laurencarter@ nearly 1000-acre plantation. Owned by shirleyplantation.com to make reservations. the Malcolm E. Jamieson family. On April 23-25, Shirley Plantation Foundation will sell plants from a local Shirley Plantation nursery on the garden terrace. 501 Shirley Plantation Road Directions to the tour area Shirley Plantation is home to 12 genera- and parking information: tions of one family who continue to own, Heading East into Richmond on I-64: operate and work Virginia’s first plantation. From 64, take I-295 South around Rich- Established only six years after John mond. Take Exit #22A onto Scenic Smith’s settlement at Jamestown in 1607, Route 5. Shirley Plantation is the oldest family-owned business in North America, dating to Heading West on I-64 from Williams- 1638. The present mansion was begun in burg: Take Exit #211 (Rt. 106 south). 1723 as a wedding present for Elizabeth Follow to Rt. 5. From Williamsburg (scenic Hill and John Carter, eldest son of Robert route): Take Rt. 199 west in Williamsburg. “King” Carter. The mother of Confederate Proceed to Rt. 5. Ample parking is available General Robert E. Lee, Anne Hill Carter, at all three plantations, as well as Westover was born at Shirley and married Revolu- Church. Bus groups should make prior tionary War hero, “Light Horse Harry” arrangements for tickets and parking prior Lee in the great house parlor. Con- to arrival. sidered by many to be the most intact Colonial estate in America, the great house is largely in its original state and features a three-floor, square-rigged Ticket includes admission to the following 3 properties in Charles City, or “flying” staircase in the main hall. as well as the Westover Episcopal Church: Still lived in by direct descendants of the first owner, Edward Hill, the guided tour of the great house highlights stories from the Hill Carter family, including several occasions when the property was saved by Berkeley Plantation the hard work, dedication and humanity 12602 Harrison Landing Road of the Carter women. Gardens, eight orig- inal colonial outbuildings and command- The site of the first official Thanksgiving ing views of the James River complete this in 1619, Berkeley is also the birthplace of majestic setting. Owned by the Charles Benjamin Harrison V, signer of the Dec- Hill Carter family. laration of Independence and three-time governor of Virginia. The estate is the birthplace of William Henry Harrison, Westover Plantation ninth president of the United States, and 7000 Westover Road ancestral home of his grandson, Benjamin Harrison, the 23rd president. Taps was William Byrd II, author, diarist, Colonial composed here when General McClellan leader and founder of the cities of headquartered 140,000 Union troops on Petersburg and Richmond, built the house the property for two months in 1862. The around 1730. Long considered a premier original Georgian mansion, built in 1726 example of Georgian architecture in Amer- of brick fired on the plantation, occupies a ica, the house’s special charm lies in its landscaped hilltop site overlooking the his- elegant yet extremely simple form and toric James River. The date of the building perfect proportions. Of special inter- and the initials of the owners, Benjamin est are the steepness of the roof, the tall Harrison IV and his wife Anne, appear in chimneys in pairs at both ends of the main a datestone over a side door. The mansion house, and the elaborate doorway, which is said to be the oldest three-story brick continues to be recognized as “the Westover house in Virginia that can prove its date doorway” despite its adaptation to many James River Plantations / Charles City 97 other buildings and homes. Shaded by 150-year-old tulip poplars, Westover’s lawn offers a commanding view of the James River and majestic eagles soaring overhead. The grounds are still protected by wrought-iron gates hung by William Byrd in 1709 and considered the finest set of 18th-century gates in the country. The interior, normally closed to the public, is noted for the beautiful proportions of the rooms, ornately carved ceilings, the detail of the cornice and stairway, and an unusual black mantelpiece. After the death of William Byrd III’s widow in 1814, Westover was sold out of the Byrd family. In 1921 Mr. and Mrs. Richard Crane acquired the property. Today, their great-granddaughter and her family make it their home and care for this histor- ic landmark. Westover was featured on the first Historic Garden Week in 1929. Rob and Andrea Erda, owners. Westover Episcopal Church, John Tyler Memorial Highway 6401 Between 1611 and 1613, as colonists moved west from Jamestown, several small parishes were formed and eventually merged to become Westover. The origi- nal Westover Church was constructed be- tween 1630 and 1637 on nearby Westover Plantation. In 1730, construction of the current church was completed at its site on Herring Creek, 1.5 miles north of Westover plantation. The end of support for the Episcopal Church by public taxation at the start of the Revolutionary War in 1776, followed by the War of 1812, the prejudice against the Church as an English loyalist institution, and a declining interest in religion culminated in a period of desecration at Westover. For 30 years after 1803, Westover Church was misused as a barn and services of the Protestant Episcopal Church of Virginia lapsed For the changing completely in Charles City County. In 1833, however, religious services were revived landscape of life by the Reverend Parke Farley Berkeley, a missionary sent to Charles City County. At this time the church structure was repaired and restored, principally through the efforts of the Harrisons and Carters, owners of Berkeley and Shirley plantations. Badly damaged by Federal troops during the Civil War, Westover Church was once more restored to service in 1867 and has been used faithfully ever since. Worshipers 6726 PATTERSON AVENUE at Westover have included Presidents RICHMOND, VA 23226 Washington, Jefferson, Harrison, Tyler and 804.282.3136 Theodore Roosevelt as well as farmers, thesteelegroupsir.com plantation owners, and their slaves. Each office is independently owned and operated. 98 James River Plantations / Charles City Hand-Crafted Bicycle Excursions www.basketandbike.com Ride, savor, and connect with friends along the historic Virginia Capital Trail. Every excursion is led by a local guide, comes with a signature snack, and ends with delicious local fare in a scenic setting. Comfortable bicycles & stylish baskets are part of the experience 804-564-2568 • [email protected] an extraordinary place Mansion Tours: Tuesday-Sunday, 12-5pm maymont.org .