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Barboursville (James Barbour)
Encyclopedia
Barboursville is the ruin of the estate of former U.S. Senator
, U.S. Secretary of War
, and Virginia
Governor James Barbour
, located in Barboursville, Virginia
, on the grounds of Barboursville Vineyards
. The house was designed by Barbour's friend and political ally, Thomas Jefferson
. The ruin is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
.
day, 1884, Barbour's house stood essentially as completed, circa 1822, from designs by Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson designed the house in the then fashionable Neo-Palladian style.
Only two one-story side porch
es appear to have been later additions. Though large in scale, the house contained only eight principal rooms, the hall
, drawing room
, and dining room
being two-story chambers. The entrance façade
featured a projecting Roman
Doric
tetrastyle portico which covered the recessed front wall of the entrance hall. On the garden front the walls of the octagonal drawing room projected into a similar portico, as at Monticello
. The octagonal dome
which Jefferson proposed in his drawing was omitted during construction; it is uncertain whether the Chinese latticework
railing
which appeared in Jefferson's drawing around the base of the roof was ever installed. Although the dining room had no chamber over it, Jefferson indicated a faux
window
on the second floor level in order to keep the garden front symmetrical
. This feature was omitted and consequently gave that side of the house an unbalanced appearance. There is little evidence as to the appearance of the original interior architectural trim.
walls, the interior masonry
partitions, and the columns of the porticoes perished. The ruins have been stabilized and are maintained as a tourist attraction.
. It is believed that these structures were built circa 1790 and were lived in by James Barbour until the main house was completed. As they are built on the slope of a hill, they appear as one story on the front with two-story columned galleries
on the rear
, which flourish on the grounds immediately surrounding the main house. A portion of the gardens were once surrounded by a serpentine
wall
similar to those designed by Thomas Jefferson for the gardens at the University of Virginia
.
and sits within the winery
's property. Visitors to the winery can visit the ruins. On summer evenings, theatrical and musical productions are presented at the ruin.
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
, U.S. Secretary of War
United States Secretary of War
The Secretary of War was a member of the United States President's Cabinet, beginning with George Washington's administration. A similar position, called either "Secretary at War" or "Secretary of War," was appointed to serve the Congress of the Confederation under the Articles of Confederation...
, and Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
Governor James Barbour
James Barbour
James Barbour was an American lawyer, amember and speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates, the 18th Governor of Virginia, the first Governor to reside in the current Virginia Governor's Mansion, a U.S. Senator from 1814–1825, and the United States Secretary of War from 1825-1828.Barbour was a...
, located in Barboursville, Virginia
Barboursville, Virginia
Barboursville is an unincorporated community in Albemarle and Orange counties in the U.S. state of Virginia. Barboursville is famous for being the birthplace of renowned American military commander and President Zachary Taylor...
, on the grounds of Barboursville Vineyards
Barboursville Vineyards
Barboursville Vineyards is a winery located in the Piedmont region of the Commonwealth of Virginia in the unincorporated town of Barboursville, Virginia. It is located within both the Virginia and Monticello viticultural areas.-History:...
. The house was designed by Barbour's friend and political ally, Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia...
. The ruin is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
Original Jeffersonian design
Until it burned on ChristmasChristmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
day, 1884, Barbour's house stood essentially as completed, circa 1822, from designs by Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson designed the house in the then fashionable Neo-Palladian style.
Only two one-story side porch
Porch
A porch is external to the walls of the main building proper, but may be enclosed by screen, latticework, broad windows, or other light frame walls extending from the main structure.There are various styles of porches, all of which depend on the architectural tradition of its location...
es appear to have been later additions. Though large in scale, the house contained only eight principal rooms, the hall
Hall
In architecture, a hall is fundamentally a relatively large space enclosed by a roof and walls. In the Iron Age, a mead hall was such a simple building and was the residence of a lord and his retainers...
, drawing room
Drawing room
A drawing room is a room in a house where visitors may be entertained. The name is derived from the sixteenth-century terms "withdrawing room" and "withdrawing chamber", which remained in use through the seventeenth century, and made its first written appearance in 1642...
, and dining room
Dining room
A dining room is a room for consuming food. In modern times it is usually adjacent to the kitchen for convenience in serving, although in medieval times it was often on an entirely different floor level...
being two-story chambers. The entrance façade
Facade
A facade or façade is generally one exterior side of a building, usually, but not always, the front. The word comes from the French language, literally meaning "frontage" or "face"....
featured a projecting Roman
Roman architecture
Ancient Roman architecture adopted certain aspects of Ancient Greek architecture, creating a new architectural style. The Romans were indebted to their Etruscan neighbors and forefathers who supplied them with a wealth of knowledge essential for future architectural solutions, such as hydraulics...
Doric
Doric order
The Doric order was one of the three orders or organizational systems of ancient Greek or classical architecture; the other two canonical orders were the Ionic and the Corinthian.-History:...
tetrastyle portico which covered the recessed front wall of the entrance hall. On the garden front the walls of the octagonal drawing room projected into a similar portico, as at Monticello
Monticello
Monticello is a National Historic Landmark just outside Charlottesville, Virginia, United States. It was the estate of Thomas Jefferson, the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence, third President of the United States, and founder of the University of Virginia; it is...
. The octagonal dome
Dome
A dome is a structural element of architecture that resembles the hollow upper half of a sphere. Dome structures made of various materials have a long architectural lineage extending into prehistory....
which Jefferson proposed in his drawing was omitted during construction; it is uncertain whether the Chinese latticework
Latticework
Latticework is a framework consisting of a criss-crossed pattern of strips of building material, typically wood or metal. The design is created by crossing the strips to form a network...
railing
Railing
Railing may refer to:* Guard rail, a structure blocking an area from access* Handrail, a structure designed to provide support, such as on a staircase* Insufflation , the act of inhaling a substance, generally a drug...
which appeared in Jefferson's drawing around the base of the roof was ever installed. Although the dining room had no chamber over it, Jefferson indicated a faux
Fake
Fake means not real.Fake may also refer to:In music:* Fake , a Swedish synthpop band active in the 1980s*Fake?, a Japanese rock band* Fake , 2010 song by Ai featuring Namie Amuro...
window
Window
A window is a transparent or translucent opening in a wall or door that allows the passage of light and, if not closed or sealed, air and sound. Windows are usually glazed or covered in some other transparent or translucent material like float glass. Windows are held in place by frames, which...
on the second floor level in order to keep the garden front symmetrical
Symmetry
Symmetry generally conveys two primary meanings. The first is an imprecise sense of harmonious or aesthetically pleasing proportionality and balance; such that it reflects beauty or perfection...
. This feature was omitted and consequently gave that side of the house an unbalanced appearance. There is little evidence as to the appearance of the original interior architectural trim.
Destruction in fire
During the fire of 1884 everything except the exterior brickBrick
A brick is a block of ceramic material used in masonry construction, usually laid using various kinds of mortar. It has been regarded as one of the longest lasting and strongest building materials used throughout history.-History:...
walls, the interior masonry
Masonry
Masonry is the building of structures from individual units laid in and bound together by mortar; the term masonry can also refer to the units themselves. The common materials of masonry construction are brick, stone, marble, granite, travertine, limestone; concrete block, glass block, stucco, and...
partitions, and the columns of the porticoes perished. The ruins have been stabilized and are maintained as a tourist attraction.
Related buildings
To the north of the house are two service buildings which now serve as an inn for guests of Barboursville VineyardsBarboursville Vineyards
Barboursville Vineyards is a winery located in the Piedmont region of the Commonwealth of Virginia in the unincorporated town of Barboursville, Virginia. It is located within both the Virginia and Monticello viticultural areas.-History:...
. It is believed that these structures were built circa 1790 and were lived in by James Barbour until the main house was completed. As they are built on the slope of a hill, they appear as one story on the front with two-story columned galleries
Balcony
Balcony , a platform projecting from the wall of a building, supported by columns or console brackets, and enclosed with a balustrade.-Types:The traditional Maltese balcony is a wooden closed balcony projecting from a...
on the rear
Gardens
Barbour's estate has been known for its unusually large and fine boxwoodBuxus sempervirens
Buxus sempervirens is a flowering plant in the genus Buxus, native to western and southern Europe, northwest Africa, and southwest Asia, from southern England south to northern Morocco, and east through the northern Mediterranean region to Turkey. Buxus colchica of western Caucasus and B...
, which flourish on the grounds immediately surrounding the main house. A portion of the gardens were once surrounded by a serpentine
Serpentine shape
Serpentine refers to the curved shape of an object or design which resembles the letter s, a sine wave or a snake; the latter is the derivation of the term.- Examples :* The Serpentine River...
wall
Wall
A wall is a usually solid structure that defines and sometimes protects an area. Most commonly, a wall delineates a building and supports its superstructure, separates space in buildings into rooms, or protects or delineates a space in the open air...
similar to those designed by Thomas Jefferson for the gardens at the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
.
Listing on National Register of Historic Places
Barboursville was listed on the National Register on November 12, 1969. Thomas Jefferson's role as architect and the fineness of the design, still visible as a ruin, were the prime factors in the property's listing.Current use
The ruin is now owned by Barboursville VineyardsBarboursville Vineyards
Barboursville Vineyards is a winery located in the Piedmont region of the Commonwealth of Virginia in the unincorporated town of Barboursville, Virginia. It is located within both the Virginia and Monticello viticultural areas.-History:...
and sits within the winery
Winery
A winery is a building or property that produces wine, or a business involved in the production of wine, such as a wine company. Some wine companies own many wineries. Besides wine making equipment, larger wineries may also feature warehouses, bottling lines, laboratories, and large expanses of...
's property. Visitors to the winery can visit the ruins. On summer evenings, theatrical and musical productions are presented at the ruin.