Belmont Manor House facts for kids
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Belmont
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 Location in Northern Virginia
Location in Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Ashburn, Virginia |
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| Built | 1799 |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| NRHP reference No. | 80004198 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | February 8, 1980 |
The Belmont Manor House, also known as Belmont Plantation, is a large, two-story house in Loudoun County, Virginia. It was built between 1799 and 1802. The house has a special design called Federal style.
Ludwell Lee (1760–1836) built the house. He was the son of Richard Henry Lee. Ludwell Lee's first wife, Flora Lee, inherited the land from her grandfather, Thomas Lee. Today, the Belmont Manor House and its land are owned by Toll Brothers, Inc. They use the Manor House as a clubhouse for a golf community. The property is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's an important historical site.
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History of Belmont Manor
Belmont Manor has a long and interesting history. Many important people have visited this special place.
Early Days and Famous Visitors
The Belmont property was once a large farm. In 1812, President James Madison visited the plantation. People say he used it as a safe place during the War of 1812. This was after the British attacked Washington, D.C..
Another famous visitor was General La Fayette. He was a French general and diplomat. He came to Belmont in 1825 to visit Ludwell Lee. The Manor House is built on one of the highest spots in eastern Loudoun County. This gives it amazing views of the hills and the Blue Ridge Mountains.
New Owners and Changes
After Ludwell Lee passed away, Margaret Mercer bought Belmont in 1836. She wanted to open a Christian school for girls there. Later, in 1887, Frederick P. Stanton bought the home. He had been a governor of Kansas.
In 1915, the McLean family became the owners. This family was famous for owning the Hope Diamond. Edward B. McLean, who was the son of The Washington Post newspaper publisher, bought the property. He built stables and a training track for racehorses.
In 1931, the estate was sold to Patrick J. Hurley and his wife. Hurley was the Secretary of War for President Herbert Hoover. Later, in 1963, the IBM Corporation bought Belmont. They used it as a special center for their managers.
By the 1980s, the house needed a lot of repairs. In 1995, Toll Brothers, Inc. bought the property. They built a golf community around it. The Manor House was carefully fixed up and became the clubhouse. It even had new parts added that matched the old style. In 2019, ClubCorp bought the Belmont Country Club.
What Belmont Manor Looks Like
The Belmont Manor House sits on a high point of the property. From here, you can see wide views of the countryside and the Blue Ridge Mountains. The property was also known for its "equestrian tradition." This means it was a place for horse riding, like steeplechase racing and fox hunting.
Outside the Manor House
The main entrance of the house has a special porch called a portico. It has two large columns on each side. The outside of the house has many fancy details.
Inside the Manor House
When you go inside, you enter a large main hall called the foyer. On each side of this hall are two big reception rooms. These rooms have special wood paneling on the walls. Both reception rooms have their own fireplaces. The fireplaces have mantels that were said to be gifts to General Lafayette in 1825.
The main staircase in the center hall is very decorative. It has a molded handrail and thin, square balusters. Upstairs, there are bedrooms with beautiful Federal-style woodwork. The house has been restored to look like it did in the early 1800s. It was also remodeled once in 1907.
The only old building still standing near the Manor House is a small stone smokehouse. There is also a cemetery on the west side of the house. Ludwell Lee is buried there. A cemetery for enslaved people is also nearby.
See also
