James River Plantations - Springtime in Virginia

James River Plantations

Sunday, Apr 13, 2008 - 12:01 AM

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All plantations are located between Richmond and Williamsburg on state Route 5 in historic Charles City County. (Tuckahoe Plantation, west of Richmond, is on the Richmond April 26 tour. Info: (804) 784-5736.)

Lower North Side/James River

Entry fees vary for lower north side James River plantations along Route 5, with tickets available at each site. Info: www.jamesriverplantations.org

Shirley Plantation. Virginia's oldest plantation was settled in 1613. It remains as one of the few relatively unchanged Virginia plantations still occupied by the 11th generation of the original family. The main house, built in 1723, has a square-rigged "flying" stairway, rising for three stories with no visible support. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. Garden Week tours during regular hours. Adults, $11. Mr. and Mrs. C. Hill Carter Jr., owners. Info: www.shirleyplantation.com; (804) 232-1613.

Berkeley. The site of the first Thanksgiving in America in 1619, Berkeley is the birthplace of Benjamin Harrison V, signer of the Declaration of Independence. It is the birthplace of President William Henry Harrison and home of his grandson, Benjamin Harrison, also a U.S. president. The original 1726 Georgian mansion is furnished with 18th century antiques. Special Garden Week days: April 23-24, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; open daily. Adults, $11. Malcolm E. Jamieson family, owners. Info: (804) 829-6018; www.berkeleyplantation.com.

Westover. The house, an excellent example of Georgian architecture in America, was built in 1730 by William Byrd II, Colonial leader and founder of the cities of Petersburg and Richmond. The interior, not usually open to the public, features ornately carved ceilings and an unusual black mantelpiece. Gardens offer a commanding view of the James River; wrought iron gates hung by William Byrd II in 1709. Grounds open daily. Interior open April 24-26, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Adults, $10. Mr. and Mrs. Frederick S. Fisher, owners. Info: (804) 829-2882; www.jamesriver plantations.com/westover.htm.

Yeardley House Garden on Jamestowne Island. A restoration project, The Garden Club of Virginia has reinterpreted a 1920s garden in the general style of the original. Info: www.apva.org.

Lower South Side/James River

South side plantations are located along the southern banks of the James River from Hopewell along state Route 10 to the area across from Jamestowne Island.

Brandon Plantation (grounds only), off Route 10 at Burrowsville. Originally part of a vast grant of land to John Martin, associate of Capt. John Smith, this Prince George County home features superb gardens between the house and river. Garden Week days: April 21-26, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., for self-guided tours. Adults, $10. Info: (757) 866-8486.

Merchants Hope Episcopal Church, on state Route 641, Merchants Hope Road, Prince George. Erected about 1700, it is one of the oldest Protestant churches still in use. Architectural flourishes and a silver Communion set from the mid-1800s are on display. Garden Week tours: April 25-26, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Weston Manor, Weston Lane, Hopewell. The late-Georgian clapboard house, circa 1789, is an elegant five-bay dwelling. Open April 1-Oct. 31; Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Sunday, 1 to 4:30 p.m. Adults, $5. Info: www.historichopewell.org; (804) 458-4682.

Smith's Fort Plantation. Opposite Jamestown across the river on state Route 31, this is the site of an original fort begun by Capt. John Smith in 1609. Open daily during Garden Week. Call for admission prices and hours. Info: (757) 294-3872; www.apva.org.

Bacon's Castle, off Route 10 at 465 Bacon's Castle Trail in Surry County. Built in 1665 by English immigrant Arthur Allen, it is the oldest documented brick house in English North America. Open April 1-Oct. 31; Call for admission prices and hours. Info: (757) 357-5976; www.apva.org.

Chippokes Plantation State Park, Route 634 in Surry County, 5 miles north of Route 10. Believed to be the oldest working plantation with its original boundaries in North America, this plantation has been farmed continuously since 1619. The park contains the Jones-Stewart Mansion that is furnished with antiques, Chippokes Farm and Forestry Museum. Info: www.dcr. virginia.gov/parks/chippokes; (757) 294-3625.