Hickory Hill (Ashland, Virginia) facts for kids
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Hickory Hill
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 Location in Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Location | E of Ashland off VA 646, Ashland, Virginia |
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| Area | 640 acres (260 ha) |
| Built | 1820 |
| NRHP reference No. | 74002121 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | November 21, 1974 |
Hickory Hill is a historic estate located in Hanover County, Virginia. It was once a very large farm, known as a plantation, covering about 3,300 acres. This property is located about 20 miles (32 km) north of Richmond and 5 miles (8 km) east of Ashland. Hickory Hill was added to the National Register of Historic Places and the Virginia Landmarks Register in 1974, recognizing its important history.
Contents
The Story of Hickory Hill
Hickory Hill has a long and interesting past. For many years, it was connected to another famous property called Shirley Plantation in Charles City County. Much of the land became part of the estate owned by Robert Carter in 1734.
Early Owners and Life on the Estate
Robert Carter gave Hickory Hill as a wedding gift to his daughter, Anne Butler Carter (1797-1868), and her husband, William Fanning Wickham (1793-1880). William Wickham was a lawyer and also managed the farm. When they received the estate, it sadly included all the enslaved people who lived and worked there.
From 1828 to 1864, William Wickham kept detailed records. He wrote down the names of the enslaved people, when they passed away, and often how they were related to each other. The Wickham family continued to live at Hickory Hill for many years, until they sold the property in the early 2000s.
A Large Virginia Farm
At its biggest, Hickory Hill covered about 3,500 acres (1,400 ha) of land. By 1860, it was one of the largest plantations in Virginia. More than 200 enslaved people were forced to work on the farm. This was a very large number, and only one other estate in Hanover County had so many enslaved people. Across the entire state of Virginia, only nine farms had this many.
Hickory Hill mainly grew wheat, which was its most important crop. They also grew corn, oats, and a small amount of tobacco. Fruits and vegetables were grown too, likely for the people living on the farm to eat. Unlike some other farms in Hanover County that sold their crops locally, Hickory Hill sold its produce in Richmond. They could get better prices there. The farm even had its own train stop, called Wickham Station, which was located near the main house on the old Virginia Central Railroad line.
Hickory Hill Slave and African American Cemetery
On the grounds of the estate, there is a special place called the Hickory Hill Slave and African American Cemetery. It is located on Providence Church Road. This cemetery covers about 4.25 acres (1.72 ha). It is surrounded by a white fence that was put up after 2010.
Some burials might have happened outside the fenced area. Not all the graves have headstones; some are just slight dips in the ground. A survey of the cemetery found about 149 burial spots, but there are likely even more. This cemetery was used for burials from around 1820 until about 1938. It serves as an important reminder of the enslaved people and African Americans who lived and worked at Hickory Hill.
