Williamsburg Area, Surry VA. Lightwood is an 18th-Century plantation house nestled in an ancient beech forest in rural Surry County, Virginia. It is surrounded by 85 acres of woods, fields, trails and streams, and is part of the land given by Chief Powhatan to Pocahontas and John Rolfe as a wedding gift in 1614. The home of a Revolutionary War soldier and his family, Lightwood House was the center of a prosperous mid-sized tobacco plantation in the second half of the 18th century.
Built circa 1760 and 1795, the house is completely restored, and offers exceptional woodwork, with much original detail, as well as all modern conveniences. There are realistic appearing gas logs in the dining room, living room and kitchen for fires in-season. A fenced back yard with period outbuildings, and garden behind the house complete the scene.
There are over two miles of walking trails throughout the property, winding through ancient forest, tree-dotted meadows and over streams and brooks. Lightwood offers lovers of both history and nature a secluded getaway to another time.
While the surroundings are completely rural and secluded, the house is only 1.5 miles from the town of Surry, where basic essentials are available, and 3.5 miles to the free 24-hour, 20-minute car ferry to Jamestown and Williamsburg, which docks next to the 17th century ships at Jamestown. From the dock on the other side of the river, Jamestown is 1/4 mile and Colonial Williamsburg six miles away.
The house has five bedrooms, two large baths (one with a six-foot whirlpool tub and separate marble-tiled walk-in shower), a living room, dining room, large entrance hall, fully equipped kitchen, laundry room, four fireplaces, three with gas logs or stoves (very cozy in the winter), and back porch, for a total of 2400 square feet. There are two queen-sized beds, two double beds, and two twin beds.
The house is furnished with many antiques from the 17th, 18th, and early 19th centuries. There is a picket-fenced back yard with period outbuildings, as well as a garden. Four dog houses adjoin the yard in a fenced-in enclosure. Two miles of walking trails through the woods and fields provide a close-up look at wildlife, including deer, turkeys, foxes, owls, hawks, woodpeckers, and an occasional bald eagle. Lightwood offers a private setting, and a truly unique and exciting opportunity to step back into America's past, all while enjoying the comforts of the 21st century.
Amenities:: Fully Equipped Kitchen, Fireplaces (Gas Logs), Central Heating, Free Long Distance US Calls, WIFI, Air Conditioning, Satellite TV, VCR, DVD, CD Player, Microwave, Dishwasher, Coffee Maker, Refrigerator, Ice Maker, Linens and Towels Provided, Washer and Dryer, 6 Foot Jetted Tub in Bath, Charcoal Grill, Dog Houses, Harpsichord Spinet, Two Canopy Beds (Queen Sized), Two Double Beds and Two Twin Beds, Two Miles of Walking Trails, Children's Playground with Outdoor Toys, and Children's Indoor Toy Closet.
No Smoking.
Activities: Lightwood offers a quiet retreat in a rural setting, where one can enjoy an historic estate and observe nature firsthand on two miles of hiking trails. Nearby in Surry or in Williamsburg, one can enjoy boating, fishing, swimming, historic sites, theater, museums, amusement parks, shopping, dining and other activities.
Area: : Lightwood is located in rural Surry County, surrounded by 85 acres of woods and fields. The historic sites of Williamsburg, Jamestown, and Yorktown can be reached via the Colonial Parkway, which begins at Jamestown near the ferry pier on the north side of the James River. There are also many historic sites in Surry, including Bacon's Castle, Smith's Fort Plantation, and Chippokes State Park. The historic waterfront town of Smithfield is a 20-minute drive away. Famous James River Plantations are also less than an hour's drive away. Williamsburg is also the location of Busch Gardens, and Water Country USA.
