Executive Mansion
Virginia House Tour
Behind the Scenes - Executive Mansion
Virginia House began its existence as the 12-century Priory of St. Sepulchre, also known as Warwick Priory. In the early 20th century before the institution of income tax, wealthy Americans were traveling abroad and buying up European ornamentation - even whole rooms - for their new mansions back home. It was in this environment in 1925 that Alexander and Virginia Weddell acquired Warwick Priory while visiting England and had it carefully dismantled and crated and shipped in seven ships back to Richmond. There it took craftsmen three years to reassemble this extraordinary residence.
Inside the home original paneling from the Priory cover the walls. The extravagantly carved staircase in the Great Hall, also from the Priory, was found for the Weddells by an antiques dealer in London. The 3/4 suit of armor which stands by the foot of the staircase was bought by the Weddells at a surplus armor sale at the Tower of London. Also in the Great Hall is a beautiful authentic choir stall embellished along the back with baroque shell carving from the Catheral of the Virgin of Guadaloupe in Mexico which the Weddells came upon while Mr. Weddell was serving as General Consul to Mexico in the late 1920s.
The mantelpiece in the Withdrawning Room is an an excellent example of a married piece. The look is 16th century but in the piece antique carving is combined with new—family armorials carved on the arcade. The raised paneling in the hallway is all antique.
The exquisite window in the diningroom as well as all of the windows throughout Virginia House are from the Priory with leaded panes, some of it "crown glass" and some new.
The Weddells bequeathed their home upon their deaths to the Virginia Historical Society and the people of Virginia. It is now a house museum and is open to the public daily throughout the year.
Exemplifying the opulent style of the American Country Place movement Virginia House blends English Tudor and Mediterrean elements in this American tribute to the great estates of Europe.
The spectacular gardens and vistas that greet visitors were created over 20 years by Virginia Weddell working with noted Richmond landscape architect Charles Gillette. Wisteria graces the home's garden facade. There are dogwood trees and boxwood and a succession of ordered gardens cascading down from the house toward the fields and on to the wilderness beyond. There are terraced gardens, perennial gardens, rose gardens and pools. Statuary punctuates the landscape. Flowers bloom in brilliant succession throughout the year.
The superb view from the terrace gives the estate the appearance of acres upon acres of land. In fact, the estate itself takes up only 8 acres but borrows its breathtaking vistas from the neighboring countryside.
Interior Views:
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1) The guestroom |
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2) Virginia Weddell's bedroom |
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3) A portrait of Virginia Weddell |
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4) Secret passage from Mr. Weddell's library into his bed chamber |
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5) Decorative carving in the library |
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6) Small portrait ornaments paneling in the main hallway |
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Garden Views:
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1) The Tea Garden |
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2) Looking back at the house from the formal gardens |
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3) Humorous flowerpot gal greets visitors to Virginia House |
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4) Whimsical stauary dots the landscape |
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5) Rich brick paths and walls outline the garden rooms |
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6) Flowers encircle this terrace fountain |
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For more information, visit the Virginia Historical Society website.
Copyright BobVila.com © 2001
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