architecture

Monday, November 26, 2012

Windsor Farms, Richmond

I spent the day in Richmond recently and drove through one of the most storied neighborhoods in the city, Windsor Farms.
Developed in 1926 by Thomas C. Williams, Jr.,  the planned neighborhood was originally meant to be created from authentic English Country houses which were to be dismantled and brought across the ocean.
Parliament put a stop to that (seriously) but 2 houses were successfully recreated from ancient British buildings and reside in Windsor Farms, both operating as house museums; Agecroft Hall, above and Virginia House, 2 above.
The rest of the houses were then designed by a who's who of 1920s (and more recent) architects and landscape designers including William Lawrence Bottomley and Charles Gillette.
 Driving through this bucolic neighborhood is as good as a house tour!
It was fun trying to decipher which houses were old and which were newer, as most are kept so immaculate that one can't age them.
 The neighborhood is an architectural dictionary of styles.
 And time periods!
 The houses range from grand estates to smaller residences.
 Everyone had a perfect yard and the old trees add so much character.
 I loved the brickwork on these tudor revival houses.
 I'm always a sucker for a white brick painted house.
 And a picket fence!
If you ever find yourself in Richmond, check out this neigborhood. Stay tuned for future posts on Agecroft Hall and Virginia House!

No comments:

Post a Comment