A Day in Richmond

Surviving what was a bad travel day and finally seeing Virginia House and Agecroft Hall - my purpose for going.

Quick Tips:

Don't attempt to walk from the train station to the city centre - on the map supplied by the tourist information office it looks a very short distance - trust me - it isn't. Take either a taxi (if any are waiting) or a bus. Incidentally, the bus stops have little pictures of a bus on them, but face the road so without walking into the road to see if the sign has a bus on it, you're not going to know if it's a bus stop! Ask the locals for advice - there is a small shop at the station and they can advise you.

Best Way To Get Around:

Trains run to Richmond from most major cities including Washington D.C. The station itself is a small, no platform place which gives the feel of leaving the city and being in the country. Watch out when crossing the tracks that you don't get squashed by other trains !

A car would be a good idea too if you intend to see a lot of Richmond, for a day trip it's probably not needed though. The buses are frequent and the drivers helpful - with an idiot like me it was just as well or I'd never have got home. They cost very little and the drivers can advise you on purchasing transfers and passes. They can also advise you on where the return bus leaves from and which one to take.

Virginia House is incredibly imposing and has a history to match. It was originally a Priory in Warwick, England, which is my home town. When I heard about it I knew I had to visit, having spent my childhood playing in Priory Park and never being able to work out where the Priory was.

It was first built in England in the 12th century, but after having the roof and valuables removed by Henry VIII and finally a few centuries later falling into disrepair, was bought by the Weddell family of Richmond. This was in the 1920's before the depression and Mr. Weddell had hoped the whole street would be old English properties - sadly only Agecroft Hall was built next door before the depression hit.

Virginia House looks huge but is in fact only a ninth of it's original size. The house is filled with art work, tapestries, and other Elizabethan furnishings, as well as an intricut wooden staircase - of which part is also in Agecroft Hall. The gardens were designed by Charles Gillette and extend all the way down to the James River - the view from the uppper stories of the house are stunning.

Agecroft Hall began it's life as a Tudor Manor House in Lancashire, England - unfortunately in the early 19th century it fell into disrepair. The neighbors to Mr. Weddell and Virginia House were a little jealous of his 'English' property and purchased Agecroft Hall themselves, to be shipped to America piece by piece.

Sadly somewhere in the rebuilding something went wrong as the building no longer has a perfect square courtyard which it did in Lancashire and looks slightly off center! However, this does not spoil the effect created by the place - it's full of Elizabethan and Stuart styled furniture and art work. The gardens are fantastic, and like their neighbors at Virginia House, sweep down to the James River.

There's a small gift shop and joint tours are available of both Agecroft Hall and Virginia House. During the summer months, Richmond's Shakespeare company Encore! perform plays.

It's best to visit both these properties during the week since there are fewer visitors then - I went during the week and had both places to myself.