Christian Eppes Gilliam, whose mother was descended from Pocahontas and whose cousin was married to Thomas Jefferson’s daughter, was delighted with her wedding present.  Who wouldn't be happy with a vast plantation overlooking the Appomattox River?  By 1789 Christian and her husband William had completed Weston Manor, an elegant, formal 13-room dwelling---the very essence of the Tidewater plantation house.

The house was rich in architectural details and the land rich in history.  In 1607, around the time Jamestown was settled, Captain Christopher Newport led an exploratory party 30 miles up the James River.  They were entertained on the banks of the Appomattox River by Queen Opusoquoinuske and a group of Appomattox Indians.  Later in 1635, the land on which they met was included in the 1,700 acres granted to Captain Francis Eppes by crown patent.

Weston Manor, the three-story colonial frame farmhouse that you see today is a classic example of Virginia Georgian architecture.  The manor’s distinctive moldings, wainscoting and chair rails are 85 percent original. The central arch accented with a paneled keystone in the 28-foot entrance hall is particularly attractive.  The spiral stairway features concave paneling, a walnut handrail and hand-carved supports. The old heart-of-pine floor still shines despite its long and hard use.  If you look closely you can see some of the original wooden floor pegs.

Although now beautifully restored and furnished with period reproductions, the house did suffer damage during the War Between the States.  The house was shelled by a Northern gunboat.  In fact, a cannonball was fired through the dining room window into the ceiling.  It may well have served as a reminder of the hazards of war to the officers under General Grant's command who were billeted at Weston Manor during the siege of Petersburg.  General Philip Sheridan was one of the officers quartered here.  A windowpane scratched with his authenticated signature is displayed in the parlor.

Before its occupation by Union troops, Weston was the temporary residence of 12-year old Emma Wood, who kept a journal.  Visitors hear about little Emma’s wartime adventures and of post-war ghosts that “run rampant” in the manor.

Today this stately manor house serenely overlooks the Appomattox River.  A community outdoor stage has been built on the riverbank.   Sunday afternoon concerts are given during the summer months.  Weston Manor is open for tours Monday through Saturday from 10:00 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. April through October.  The tour lasts an hour and a nominal admission is charged.

Just downriver from Weston Manor on the south bank of the James is Flowerdew Hundred, one of the earliest English settlements in North America.  The land originally inhabited by prehistoric people was granted to Governor George Yeardley in 1618.  Secrets from the past have been uncovered by archaeologists.  Artifacts dating from 9000 B.C. to the Civil War era are on display in the Flowerdew Museum.

The visitor center/museum is located in the only pre-Civil War building, originally a schoolhouse, still standing.  An 1820s detached plantation kitchen has been reconstructed on the foundations of the original kitchen.  The guided tour encompasses this building and the windmill.  In 1978, an 18th-century style windmill was built to commemorate the 1621 windmill.  It illustrates windmill technology through the Revolutionary War.  Flowerdew Hundred is a 1,400-acre working farm. 

Flowerdew Hundred Plantation is open April through November, Tuesday through Sunday from 10:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.  At other times it is open by appointment; call (804) 541-8897.   Admission is charged.  There are picnic facilities on the grounds.