on location: south ❖
dave bodle
SOUTHERN MANSIONS
Maymont, an example of Gilded Age opulence in Richmond, Va., boasts 33 rooms.
Plantations, cabins and other homes steeped in history enhance itineraries in the 11 Travel South states
T
he South’s mountain ranges, endless plains, abundant harbors and magnificent rivers can all tell stories of our nation’s history. However, if walls in the historic homes
could talk, what wonderful tales they might spin. From palatial plantations to humble cabins, so much of our culture can be Savoring a taste of Old England during Summer City Fest at Agecroft Hall in Richmond, Va.
seen and experienced. Each home is unique for its residents, its use and its place in our past.
VIRGINIA Virginia’s presidential homes or its James River Plantations may come to mind first, but just off I-95 in Richmond two special houses welcome groups. A visit to Agecroft Hall is a step into 15th century Europe. Built in England during the late 1600s, Agecroft was the home to the distinguished Langley and Dauntesey families. Upon falling into disrepair it was purchased at auction in 1925 by Richmonder Thomas C. Williams. He had it dismantled, crated, shipped across the Atlantic and reassembled in a Richmond neighborhood known as Windsor Farms. With authentic pieces from as early as 1485 to 1660, the Tudor estate brims with history. (agecrofthall.com) During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, often termed America’s Gilded Age, vast fortunes were amassed. Maymont, its 100 acres and 25 outbuildings are a testimony to the wealth of James Dooley and his wife Sallie. The Dooleys’ gift of May26 April 2012
LeisureGroupTravel.com