Rokeby (Leesburg, Virginia) facts for kids
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Rokeby
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Building on Rokeby Property, September 2012
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 Location in Northern Virginia
Location in Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Leesburg, Virginia |
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| Area | 60 acres (24 ha) |
| Built | 1765 |
| Architectural style | Georgian |
| NRHP reference No. | 76002109 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | May 30, 1976 |
Rokeby is an old house near Leesburg, Virginia. It was built a long time ago, around the mid-1700s. This house is a great example of the Georgian style of building in Loudoun County.
During the War of 1812, when the British attacked Washington D.C. in 1814, Rokeby was used to hide important U.S. government papers. People even say the Declaration of Independence was kept safe in its basement!
What Rokeby Looks Like
The main house has two floors and is made of brick. It has tall chimneys on each end. Inside, there's a central hallway with a staircase, and rooms on both sides.
Later, in 1886, a part was added to the back of the house. It was built to match the original style.
One cool thing about Rokeby is its basement. The middle part of the basement has a special arched ceiling made of bricks, called a barrel vault. There used to be a big kitchen in the basement, and its old fireplace is still there.
Over the years, the inside of the house has been updated. The outside walls are built with a special brick pattern called Flemish bond.
History of Rokeby
Rokeby was built around 1765 by a man named Charles Binns, Sr. He owned a large piece of land, about 160 acres.
His son, William Binns, inherited the house in 1801. Even though William didn't live there, the empty house became very important. The Secretary of State at the time, James Monroe, decided to use Rokeby to store important U.S. government documents. This was done to keep them safe during the War of 1812, especially when the British burned parts of Washington D.C.
In 1830, Benjamin Shreve, Jr. bought the house. He made some changes to the roof and the inside decorations. Around 1886, when O.E. Breese owned the house, it was first called "Rokeby." The Breese family also added the parts to the back of the house.
The house was fixed up and restored in 1958.
Rokeby was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places on May 30, 1976. This means it's recognized as an important historical place in the United States.
