17th century Jacobean colonial mansion built by Arthur Allen. JCB has a beautiful post about Bacon's Castle and I urge you to look here.
The house sits well back from the road in a rural setting surrounded by farmland. On the day of our early spring visit the sun was shining, although it was still cool enough to enjoy the walk down the long approach to the imposing home. The view is impressive as the details of the plantation are revealed and the unusual roof line and triple stacked chimneys are beautiful against the bright blue sky. The simple white outbuildings on the property provide a pleasing contrast. We are given an informative tour of the interior; the home has been well loved over the centuries and is in surprisingly good condition. There have been renovations to accommodate newer styles, even so, I thought the changes did little to encourage the flow of air...that whisper of a breeze, so welcome, on a stifling Virginia summer's day. The house is an echo of home an ocean away and a poignant reminder of everything left and lost by those who came to this land to begin again.
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Lovely place and another reason to motor through Virginia sometime this year. I keep saying that when I retire I will do all these things but each time I decide to something interesting comes along.
ReplyDeleteThe echo of home an ocean away - so beautifully put - a phrase that's going to stay with me today because it resonates with my own experience and its an echo that never gets any fainter. You've set me thinking .... thank you.
What a beautiful place. Lovely.
ReplyDeleteBlue ~ A lovely comment, thank you! Your insights on Bacon's Castle would be wonderful to read, so I hope you will not put off your visit for too long.
ReplyDeleteOur family left the U.S. and we lived overseas for ten very happy years. Everywhere, we embraced the culture, life style, food and in some cases, the language. But we brought a part of ourselves too. We were sensitive to Ramadan, rejoiced in Now Ruz (Iranian New Year) and distributed packets of lucky money for Chinese New Year, but we celebrated Thanksgiving, July 4th and Christmas. Cherished objects and photos were always with us and here is the funny thing. Our old traditions acquired a different color and tone, but they were still an echo of home.
Thank you Rachel! It must be very late for you...the woodchuck will soon arrive!
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