Llangollen Farm facts for kids
Llangollen Farm is a historic farm in Loudoun County, Virginia, USA. It's known for its horses and cattle. The farm is located near Upperville, close to the Blue Ridge Mountains. This area is famous for its many Thoroughbred horse farms and large country estates. Llangollen Farm was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2017 because of its important history.
The Story of Llangollen Farm
Llangollen Farm gets its name from a small town in Wales. The Welsh word "Llan" means "Church" or "an enclosure." The farm was once part of a huge land grant of about 10,000 acres (40 km²). A large house was built on the land in the late 1770s. Over time, parts of the Llangollen estate were sold.
In the early 1800s, Cuthbert Powell owned the farm. He lived there until he passed away in 1849. By 1930, the farm had shrunk to about 2,200 acres (8.9 km²). That year, a man named John Hay "Jock" Whitney bought it. He gave it as a wedding gift to his fiancée, Mary Elizabeth "Liz" Altemus.
Liz Whitney's Horse Farm Dream
Liz Whitney loved show horses from a young age. She spent a lot of money to make Llangollen a top place for breeding and training horses. She trained hunt horses, as well as Thoroughbreds for flat racing and steeplechase events.
Liz renovated and expanded the main house. She also built many new structures for the horses. These included six barns, one shaped like a horseshoe. She also built a special barn for breeding horses and sheds for broodmares (female horses used for breeding).
She added paddocks (small fenced areas for horses) and a training track. There were also eight cottages for employees and guests. Under the name "Llangollen Farm," Liz Whitney was very successful in Thoroughbred horse racing for many years.
Liz and Jock Whitney divorced in 1940. However, Liz kept the farm and lived there for almost 60 years. She stayed there until she passed away in 1988. Towards the end of her life, the farm became a bit run down. After her death, the property was sold in 1989.
New Owners and Farm Life
In 1989, the farm was about 1,100 acres (4.5 km²) in size. Roy L. Ash and his wife, Lila, bought it. They saved the farm from developers who wanted to tear down the buildings. These developers planned to build many new homes instead.
Mr. and Mrs. Ash worked hard to restore the property. They started a large cow-calf operation. This means they raised over 300 Angus and Angus-cross cows. They became well-known for their efforts to protect the environment on the farm. They used special methods to keep the water clean. They also created areas along the streams that provided habitat for wildlife.
In 2007, when he was almost 90, Roy Ash sold Llangollen estate for $22 million. It was bought by a company controlled by Donald P. Brennan and his wife, Patricia. Their daughter, Maureen, now helps manage the property. She has created a training facility called the VIPolo Club there.
As of September 2019, the property was for sale again.
