Rosewell (plantation) facts for kids
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Rosewell
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Ruins of Rosewell.
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 Location in Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Location | Rosewell, HABS Photo |
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| Area | 9.9 acres (4.0 ha) |
| Built | 1725 |
| NRHP reference No. | 69000244 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 1, 1969 |
Rosewell Plantation was a very important home in Gloucester County, Virginia. For over 100 years, it was the home of the Page family. They were one of the "First Families of Virginia," meaning they were among the earliest and most influential families in the colony.
Building Rosewell started in 1725. The huge brick house overlooked the York River. It was one of the most amazing homes in the American colonies. A historian named Thomas Tileston Waterman called it "the largest and finest of American houses of the colonial period."
For many years, Rosewell Plantation was known for its big parties and celebrations. This continued even during the American Civil War. Sadly, the home was destroyed by a fire in 1916.
In 1793, the Page family sold part of Rosewell to the Catlett family. They built a house called "Timberneck." This house still stands today inside Machicomico State Park. Like Rosewell, Timberneck has been studied by archaeologists. It is now being fixed up by a group called the Fairfield Foundation.
History of Rosewell Plantation
The building of Rosewell began in 1725. It was started by Mann Page I (1691–1730). He was the grandson of Colonel John Page, an early settler in Jamestown. Mann Page I studied in England at Eton College and Oxford University.
After returning to America, he became part of the Governor's Council for the Virginia Colony. He married his second wife, Judith Carter, in 1718. She was the daughter of Robert "King" Carter, another powerful figure. They had five children together.
Mann Page I wanted to build a house that was bigger and grander than the Governor's Palace in Williamsburg. He used materials like brick, marble, and mahogany. Some of these materials were brought from England.
Historians believe Mann Page I might have designed the house himself. It was about 12,000-square-foot (1,100 m2), which was twice the size of the Governor's Palace. Rosewell was the largest home built in colonial Virginia. Its design was likely inspired by large houses in London.
When Mann Page I died in 1730, his wife Judith inherited the property. Their son, Mann Page II (1718-1778), finished building the mansion. The family spent so much money on the house that Mann Page II had to sell off some of his land. The Page family owned Rosewell for 100 more years.
In 1837, the Page family sold Rosewell to Thomas Booth. He made some changes to the house. He removed the fancy roof decorations and the lead roof. He also sold the marble fireplaces and much of the beautiful wood inside. A new, flatter roof was put on.
The plantation had a few more owners. Then, in 1916, a fire broke out and destroyed the Rosewell mansion. Today, only the ruins of the house remain.
Archaeologists have studied the site. They have found many old items. These discoveries help us learn about life and building styles in colonial times. In 1969, Rosewell was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
From the early colonial days until the American Civil War, people who owned Rosewell had many workers. These workers helped grow crops and took care of the house. They also did skilled jobs like blacksmithing and woodworking. They grew food for the owners and sometimes for themselves.
The Page Family of Virginia
John Page (1743–1808) grew up at Rosewell. He was the grandson of Mann Page I and the son of Mann Page II. John Page became a politician and later served as Governor of Virginia.
He went to the College of William and Mary in nearby Williamsburg. There, he was classmates with Thomas Jefferson, who later wrote the Declaration of Independence. John Page fought in the American Revolutionary War. He also served in the U.S. Congress and the Virginia General Assembly.
Other important members of the Page family include:
- Colonel John Page of Jamestown (grandfather of Mann Page I).
- Mann Page III (brother of Governor John Page).
- Thomas Nelson Page, who was a U.S. Ambassador to Italy.
- William Nelson Page, known for building the Virginia Railway.
- Thomas Jefferson Page, a naval officer.
- Confederate General Richard Lucian Page.
What Rosewell Looked Like
The author James Joseph McDonald described Rosewell Mansion in his 1907 book, "Life In Old Virginia":
The mansion was built strongly of brick. It had three stories and a basement. The foundation walls were very thick, about three and a half feet. The main hall was large, and the ceilings were high. The whole house showed great taste and wealth. From the top windows, you could see a wonderful view of the land and the York River.
Thomas Jefferson often visited Rosewell when Governor Page lived there. It is said that Jefferson wrote an early version of the Declaration of Independence in a room at Rosewell. This room is now known as the 'Blue Room.'
The way the bricks were laid, the tall three stories, and the location of the mansion were all meant to remind people of grand homes in London. Rosewell was one of the most advanced buildings in early America.
Architectural historian Daniel Drake Reiff wrote:
"Rosewell was the largest and most advanced brick building in Virginia at the time. It was special because it looked like a London townhouse. It seems likely that a bricklayer from London was brought over to help with the huge project and to do the more difficult brick details."
The brickwork at Rosewell is similar to Christ Church in Lancaster County. Robert Carter, Mann Page I's father-in-law, built Christ Church. This similarity makes some people think the same bricklayers worked on both buildings.
Rosewell was the first house in the American colonies to have a part that stuck out from the middle of the building. This was a new idea at the time. Architectural historian Fiske Kimball noted that this feature was "antedating any other by a score of years."
When it was finished, the house had a flat lead roof with a low wall around it. There were also two eight-sided towers on each end of the roof. Smaller buildings in front of the mansion created a grand entrance area.
The inside of the house was painted in a very stylish way. When Colonial Williamsburg was being restored, they looked at an order placed by John Page for paints from London. This helped them understand the colors used in the Governor's Palace. In 1771, Page ordered many painting supplies, including white lead, yellow ochre, and Venetian Red.
