The Washington times., 1935-07-10
NOW
Famed Mansion
of the Byrds
HISTORIC LORE
By HELEN ESSARY

River in Virginia. Westover,
built by William Byrd more
than 200 years ago, is probably
the most interesting.
Mr.. and Mrs. Richard Crane
bought Westover several years
ago. They have restored it
beautifully. Now, again prov
ing it's ancient hospitality,
Westover welcomes visitors to
its grounds. A sign on the
gatepoSt says so.
The beginning of Westover
concern principally William Byrd
II, the ancestor of those Byrd
boys" of present-day Virginia.
OF Tom, who owns most Of
the apple orchards around Win
chester. OF Dick, the Polar ex-
plorer and aviator. And of
Harry, first q governor of Vir-
GINA and now a distinguished
member of the United States
Senate.
William Byrd. Il, was one Of
the richest men in the Ameri-
can colony. On one of his trips
to England, where he was a
person of Importance in the
court of James II, he married
a wealthy, charming woman.
He decided to build his bride
a new home. So in 1880 he
set slaves to work to erect the
finest house in the colony.
Here he spread out the trea-
sureS he had collected in Eu-
rope. Wrought iron gates, sur
mounted with the Byrd coat of
arms and two eagles, a splendid
fence; silver, rare glass, books
the finest library in America
"a marble mantel from Italy,
silverware and precious jewels,
silk and tapestries and por.
traits of his family by famous
masters.
The James flows past the
ancient spreading lawn. And
an avenue of tulip poplars bios.
som each spring. A path lined
with thriving lockwood leads to
the house.
Looking at Westover, even
from the outside, one easily be-
1ieves stories of it's glamorous
history. In its architecture, it's
fine Georgian simplicity, beau.
tiful doorways, the third story
with dormer windows, the Deep
hipped roof and four tall chin.
neyS, is a setting for romance.
When William Byrd built the
house, he completed only the
center structure. Now large,
-two-Story wings connect in the
familiar colonial style with the
center building. The wings were
not connected originally with
the main house, as in most
colonial houses, but were left
open like those at Mount
Vernon.
Standing under the fan.
shaped cornice of the classic
portico of Westover's entrance,
I looked out across the James
River and listened delightedly
to some of the estates history.
In 1871 Benedict Arnold, with
British troops, landed at West
over. In April of the same year,
CORVALLIS crossed the James at
this point with his forces, and
marched on, determined to con.
quer the troops of General
Washington.
During the Civil War, Gen.
eral Fitzjohn Porter had his
headquarters in the mansion.
After the Union retreat at
Richmond, General McCleuan's
forces camped in the meadows
and gardens of Westover, and
tore down the garden walls to
make chimneys for their hastily
constructed shelters.
At the end of the Civil War
this damage was repaired. The
walls now look strong and the
gardens are poisoning as if
they had never been disturbed.
The William Byrd who built
Westover must have been fel.
low of extraordinary personality.
ChroniclerS of the day say that
he was not only born 'to an
ample fortune but to a brilliant
mind and courageous DISPOSE
ton" Besides, he was hand
some, graceful and fascinating.
In demand everywhere. At once
the most elegant Of good gentle
men and the best of good fell
lows. His diaries printed under
the title of The WeStover
Manuscripts are models Of
pure English, fresh, sparkling
and picturesque. He took an
active part in public affairs"
Of William Byrd's five daugh-
tiers, who married into the ariS-
tocracy of Tidewater, Va, Eve.
Ign Byrd is the favorite tradi-
ton of the country. She was
beautiful and a belle in Vir-
ginia. At the Court of st. James,
Charles Mordaunt, Earl of Peter
borough, wanted to marry Mis-
treSs Evelyn. Her father disap-
proved. Hurried his daughter
back to Virginia. And ordered
her to marry a man whom he
selected.
Mistress Evelyn, however, was
as determined as her father.
She said she would marry no
one but the Earl of Peterbor.
ough. And died a supposedly
hearfhrnken "antinla virpi,, %