| James River Plantations |
Article Index for James River |
Website Links For James |
Information AboutJames River Plantations |
|
Since the river was highway of commerce in the 17th and 18th centuries, the early Plantation s were established on the north and south banks along it, with most having their own Wharf s. A site of 100 acres was a common unit of size, and thus, many early plantations included the word "hundred" in their names. Tobacco was the largest Export crop, customarily shipped in large Hogshead s. While most are now long gone, some of the larger and older of the James River plantations are still in use and/or open to the public Almost all are non-government-owned, and houses and/or grounds are generally open daily to visitors with various admission fees applicable. PARTIAL LISTING OF PLANTATIONS IN EARLY 17TH CENTURY Based upon the makeup of the House Of Burgesses , a partial list of early plantations and their representatives were:
Kingsland Plantation was owned by Christopher Branch PLANTATIONS NORTH SIDE OF JAMES RIVER Listed from east to west, some of the plantations on the north side of the James River were: In western Newport News (formerly Warwick County ), the former sites of Richneck Plantation and Denbigh Plantation were located. Further west, Endview Plantation has been restored and is located near Lee Hall just off U.S. Highway 60 . In James City County east of Williamsburg , Carter's Grove Plantation is on the former site of Martin's Hundred Plantation and Wolstenholme Towne . It was temporarily closed to visitors beginning in 2003. The former site of Green Spring Plantation near Jamestown is currently under Archaeological study. Historically the home of Virginia's Royal Governor William Berkeley and other famous Virginians until the American Civil War , the site is now owned by the National Park Service . There are plans underway to open it to visitors by 2008 as part of the Colonial National Historical Park . In Charles City County to the west across the Chickahominy River , the plantations on the north side of the James River are generally accessed from Virginia State Highway 5 .
:The House, circa 1730 , is "Virginia Tidewater" in architectural design, and is the longest frame dwelling in America. It was expanded to its present length, 300 feet (90 m), by President Tyler in 1845 , when he added the 68 foot (21 m) ballroom designed for dancing the Virginia Reel . Sherwood Forest is a National Historic Landmark , Virginia Historic Landmark, and listed on the National Register Of Historic Places . Sherwood Forest it is open to the public seven days a week, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
In Henrico County , some of the former plantations are still working farms, notably including Curles Neck Plantation , home of Nathaniel Bacon , the leader of 1676's Bacon's Rebellion , and Varina Farms , home of John Rolfe and Pocahontas between 1614 and 1616 . (Neither open to public). EXTANT PLANTATIONS SOUTH SIDE OF JAMES RIVER Most of the plantations south of the James River are accessed by Virginia State Highway 10 , which runs between Suffolk and Richmond via Smithfield , Surry , and Hopewell . These south side plantations, from east to west, include:
|
|
|