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FLAT ROCK
Ante-Bellum Home in Lunenburg Co., VA
Click on image to enlarge.
Submitted by the Lunenburg County Historical
Society 16 November 1999
Return to VAGenWeb Lunenburg Home Page
Flat Rock is owned by Mr. Bagley Reid and sons, who live at Fishers Island,
New York. It is located 1.8 miles southwest of Kenbridge on route 655, just
after crossing Flat Rock Creek. It was built in the 1760's by the Protestant
Episcopal Church of Cumberland Parish in compliance with the colonial law
that the vestry of every parish be required to purchase a tract of land and
erect upon that land a home for the minister of the parish. The first
minister to occupy the house was the Rev. James Craig, who rendered valuable
service to the American cause at the time of the Revolution. He owned a
grist mill, which was converted into a depot of supplies for the American
soldiers. The mill was burned during Tarleton's raid through the county in
1781. After the war, the Craigs continued to live in the house. A number of
other families who have owned the house include Chambers, Macfarland, Smith,
and most notably the Bagley family since the late 1820s.
The lovely old home is very much alive with history. The home was originally
called "Prospect Hill" and is featured in Evelyn Ferguson Arvin’s book,
Antebellum Homes of Lunenburg. The house rests on a hill which enables
visitors to view the majesty of the surrounding area, including a beautiful
view of Flat Rock Creek.
The architectural design of the house is quite unique. The two large
chimneys on each end of the home are quite large and are very unusual in
design. Stone steps leading from the kitchen in the English basement
indicate much usage throughout the years. Visitors will be amazed at the
beauty of the old heart-pine flooring throughout the house.
Since Mr. Reid’s purchase of the home, many improvements have been made. The
over-all run-down condition of the home has been improved tremendously,
including the addition of a screened porch to the back of the house.
A great deal of detail has been given to the landscape design used on the
grounds. A vineyard is currently providing enough fruit for the making of
wine, a special family event. On one end of the home a beautifully shaped
espaliered pear tree provided a good harvest of fruit this year. Front and
back walkways have old bricks laid in sand to replicate the colonial style
of masonry used in that period.
A visit to Flat Rock takes you for a delightful visit back in time to an
era when life was simple, but the work was harder. The ambiance found in
this home could not be replicated in a new dwelling. It comes only when so
much history lies within and great care to taken to preserve it.
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