LIST: 5 of Central Virginia’s oldest buildings
VENN
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- As the first permanent settlement established by colonists upon their arrival in North America, it's only natural that Virginia is home to some centuries-old architecture.
There are dozens upon dozens of historic buildings scattered all across the Commonwealth. Here's a little bit about five that are still standing in Central Virginia.
Foster's Castle, New Kent County
Foster's Castle in New Kent County, photo taken in 1992. (Photo: Virginia Department of Historic Resources)
Foster's Castle, located close to the Pamunkey River in New Kent County, was likely built between 1685 and 1690, according to the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR). It is considered "a significant document of Virginia's oldest architecture."
The manor house was built for Joseph Foster, who then represented New Kent in the House of Burgesses after coming to America from Newport, England.
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This historic home is one of Virginia's three remaining Stuart-period manor houses fitted with enclosed porches with chambers above -- features typical of post-medieval English houses, the Virginia DHR said.
The other two, Criss Cross and Bacon's Castle, are found in Newport News and Surry County, respectively.
St. Peter's Church, New Kent County
St. Peter's Parish Church in New Kent County, photo taken in 2022. (Photo: Virginia Department of Historic Resources)
St. Peter's Parish Church, found in New Kent County, was built between 1701 and 1703 by carpenter William Hughs and bricklayer Cornelius Hall, per the Virginia DHR.
One of Virginia's oldest remaining churches, St. Peter's was attended by America's first-ever First Lady, Martha Washington, during her childhood. Many believe it was also the site of her and former president George Washington's wedding.
Its tower was added between 1739 and 1741 by William Walker, who is described as an important early master builder. In the centuries since, the church has seen multiple careful restorations, including the replacement of decayed original fabric in the interior.
"St. Peter's represents an extraordinary rare example of ecclesiastical architecture built prior to the period when the neoclassical Georgian style dominated the architecture of the American colonies," the Virginia DHR said of the site's architectural significance.
Rural Plains, Hanover County
Rural Plains in Hanover County, photo taken in 2024. (Photo: Virginia Department of Historic Resources)
Hanover County's Rural Plains is believed to have been constructed between 1724 and 1726. It is one of the county's oldest dwellings and the oldest gambrel roof house in Virginia, the Virginia DHR said.
Described as an "important example of a substantial, non-academic Tidewater farmhouse of the early-18th century," Rural Plains was once owned by John Shelton, the proprietor of Hanover Tavern. The Shelton family lived on the property for over three centuries -- from 1670 until 2006.
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John Shelton's daughter, Sarah Shelton, was the first wife of founding father and former Virginia governor Patrick Henry -- the man best known for "Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death."
Rural Plains is now part of Richmond National Battlefield Park.
Berkeley Plantation, Charles City County
Berkeley Plantation in Charles City County, photo taken in 1971. (Photo: Virginia Department of Historic Resources)
Described as "one of America's most historic estates," Charles City County's Berkeley Plantation sits on land that was purchased by the family of Benjamin Harrison IV in 1691. Harrison built the mansion itself in 1726, per the Virginia DHR.
"[Berkeley Plantation] is among the earliest of the great Georgian plantation dwellings that became the foci of colonial Virginia’s economic, cultural and social life," the Virginia DHR said.
Two of Benjamin Harrison IV's descendants born at Berkley Plantation went on to play important roles in America's development.
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His son, Benjamin Harris V, was a signer of the Declaration of Independence, while his grandson, William Henry Harrison, was the ninth president of the United States.
Old Stone House, Richmond
Old Stone House in Richmond, photo taken in 2023. (Photo: Virginia Department of Historic Resources)
The Old Stone House, located in Richmond, is the only colonial-era house left in the River City, the Virginia DHR said. It is believed to have been built around 1754.
The property is a part of the Poe Museum -- meant to commemorate poet Edgar Allen Poe, who grew up in Richmond -- and has been since 1921. It houses an exhibit on Poe's childhood. According to the Poe Museum, while Poe never lived in this home, he would have known of its significance -- as it was already a landmark during his lifetime -- and he was connected to the surrounding community.
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The museum adds that the history of this house and its use is actually widely debated.
"The house was certainly never Washington’s Headquarters, as [one booklet] relates; and Patrick Henry never used it as his office," the museum said on its website. "Powhatan never lived here, either. We do, however, own a photograph of the Wheelbarrow Man (mentioned in the 1894 article below), but we can neither confirm nor deny that he kept a pet bear on the premises."
