Stratford Hall, Westmoreland County, Virginia....More Than Robert E. Lee
Written: Mar 05 '04 (Updated Mar 21 '04)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Handsome house and attractive grounds, pleasant restaurant on the premises
Cons: Difficult to visit without a car
The Bottom Line: Those interested in history or architecture should find a visit to Stratford Hall a rewarding experience. Well organized tours.
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| tombarnes's Full Review: Stratford Hall |
Stratford Hall in northern Virginia will always be linked with the name of its most famous occupant, Robert E. Lee, but there is much more to the history of this great house than its brief occupation by the future general. Architecturally, Stratford Hall is one of the most important grand early houses of Virginia.
A Brief History
Built in 1730-38 by Thomas Lee, Stratford Hall is unusual in Virginia for its classic plan and its magnificent interiors. Its plan and elevations are a departure from the normal early Georgian house in Virginia, both in their marked formality and the careful execution of interior elements as well. The H shape is almost unique in early Virginia houses and the paino nobile, or main floor here, is what we might normally call the second floor today. Sleeping quarters are downstairs and the principal rooms of the house are on the main floor above. Above all, the house casts a commanding presence on its manicured grounds. It was, after all, designed as a seat of power.
Thomas Tileston Waterman described Stratford as an important house, especially its great hall, with full length Corinthian pilasters and full paneling throughout. Its vaulted tray ceiling was also unique in Virginia at the time. Stratford Hall is equally important as an architectural monument as its place as the seat of one of Virginia's most prominent and powerful families. It should be noted that Robert E. Lee lived here only until he was six years old, at which time his family removed to Alexandria. The house was sold in 1826, and passed into the hands of the Robert E. Lee Memorial Association in the 1920's.
The House Tour
The house has not suffered much alteration since its construction. While there are relatively few pieces in the house from the Lee family, the furniture is in keeping with the Early Georgian period. I rather liked the spareness of it all. Though it is a grand house, it was also the center of a working plantation, and as such, wasn't tarted up with superfluous decoration. The grace of the architecture speaks for itself.
I was a bit disappointed that we weren't allowed upstairs. Of course, the rooms up there are far less notable than those on the main floor of the house, but I might have liked to see them. The guides were fairly knowledgeable, but I found a few inconsistencies here and there with their information.
Grounds
The extensive grounds include a vast lawn sweeping down to the banks of the Potomac, formal gardens, a grist mill and the former slave quarters. The four principal dependencies are at each corner of the house, set back a bit, but completing the formal and symmetrical plan. Our tour of the gardens was curtailed by a light afternoon shower, but there will always be time for another visit some day.
They do go out of their way to tell you of the plight of the slaves who worked on the plantation. The kitchen tour is especially interesting in this regard. One has only to see the huge fireplace to imagine the dangers of working in the kitchen there. Little wonder that the kitchens were always detached from the main house in Colonial times. I had hoped to see the slave quarters as well, but they were under restoration when we visited.
Shop
The shop is fairly well organized and does have a few things which might actually be useful. The prices are a bit high, but this is a gift shop after all.
Restaurant
Much more informal than one might expect, the Plantation Dining Room is really a simple place, but its setting in a wooded glade is a good place to rest before or after your tour of the mansion and its extensive grounds. The food was nothing exceptional, but it wasn't bad either. Virginia ham, biscuits, brisket and barbecue are the sorts of thing you will find on their menu. The prices were fair as well.
Guest Houses
Two guest houses, the Cheek and the Astor, offer twenty rooms for overnight visitors. The rooms are well furnished, if slightly rustic. The rates are $110.00-$115.00, quite fair for the setting.
Admission Etc.
The house is open daily from 10:00 AM until 4:00 PM. Admission is only $7.00, so this can be considered a good bargain. Go early in the day to escape some of the bus tours.
Getting There
Stratford Hall is in Westmoreland County, about two and a half hours from Washington. If you are planning to stay overnight and don't want to stay on the grounds, the Inn at Montross, on the Court Green in Montross, is about twenty minutes away. If you are planning an extended visit to the area, Wakefield (Pope's Creek Plantation, the birthplace of George Washington, is nearby. Though the house is inviting, it is really more wishful thinking on the part of the architects who did the reconstruction than authentic history. Stratford Hall is the real thing.
The house is maintained by the Robert E. Lee Foundation, a non-profit group dedicated to the preservation of the mansion and its grounds.
Stratford Hall
485 Great House Road
Stratford, VA 22558
Tel. 804-493-8038
FAX 804-493-0333
www.stratfordhall.org
Recommended:
Yes
Best Suited For: Friends
Best Time to Travel Here: Anytime
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Member: Thomas Barnes
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