Lightwood, an 18th Century Plantation House on 70 Acres- Williamsburg Area Vacation Rental

Historic Lightwood, Circa 1760

Lightwood House was built in several different periods by the Wall family of Surry County, a tobacco plantation family, beginning around 1760. As the prosperity of the Walls increased, they added on to the house in the 1790's and the early 19th century. The Wall family settled in northern Surry County in the early 17th century, and when land became available about 1700 below the Blackwater River in southern Surry, a branch of the family moved there. Other than the fact that they were tobacco planters, there is not much else known about the Wall family. We do know they were undoubtedly supporters of the revolution, as they named one of their sons Patrick Henry Wall in the late 18th century.The original plantation and house was sold by the Walls in the 1820's, and after passing through a series of owners was purchased by the Maynard family in 1857. The Maynards were a colorful and lively family who loved children, fox hunting and entertaining. The house was aquired by the present owners from the Maynard family descendents in 1978. The house was in an advanced state of decay, and was moved to its present site ten miles away, still in Surry County, and restored over the next two decades . The land where the house presently stands was part of the land given to Pocahontas and John Rolfe by Chief Powhattan as a wedding gift, and was some of the earliest settled land in English North America. The stream that runs throught the property was the southern boundary of the wedding gift, and originally was known as Dividing Run, but by 1700 was called Lightwood Run. Lightwood refers to pine stumps preserved in low lying wetlands. It is rich in resin, and was prized for starting fires and making torches. It was mined from these wetlands, and was a very useful commodity.

The name of the plantation, "Lightwood" comes from this stream.

Architecturally the house is a fine example of a medium sized tobacco plantation of the eighteenth century. Differing periods of construction give the house a fine variety of decorative styles.

The earliest section displays a large cooking fireplace and original exposed beamed ceiling, and harkens back in style and form

to the cottages of medieval England. A corner staircase leads to the upstairs bedroom. In 1789 a lean-to addition was added to the original house. In about 1795 another addition was built next to the original house, and was attached via a twelve foot long arcade, or walkway. The new section was much more formal in design, featuring federal style paneling and woodwork. The final addition was in the early 19th century, when the arcade was replaced by a full two story section, comprising the entrance hall and an upstairs bedroom. The entrance hall features the most elaborate woodwork of the house, complete with Corinthian columns. Other fine features of the house include more exposed beamed ceilings, period hardware, original floors, wainscot paneling and much original woodwork, both interior and exterior. Several period outbuildings complete the scene, including a smokehouse used to smoke hams for the coronation feast of King Edward the VII. A fine traditional herb and flower garden has been added recently for the use and pleasure of our guests.

Today the house stands in the middle of seventy acres of fields, old growth forest, streams and ravines. There are two miles of hiking trails through the estate. Remnants of old roads, dams, paths and 19th century agricultural activity abound. There is much wildlife that can be seen on the grounds, including deer, turkeys, hawks, foxes, possums, turtles and an occasional bald eagle. Since the early 17th century the land has been worked and occupied by many generations of Virginians, and before them, for thousands of years, the original inhabitants of the land we now call Virginia

LIGHTWOOD IN SPRING LIGHTWOOD DRIVE IN THE FALL

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