Castle Hill
Gardens and Antique Car Show
Historical Talk by Barclay Rives
1:30 & 3:00
Open all day
Historical Talk by Barclay Rives
1:30 & 3:00
Open all day
Dr. Thomas Walker (1715-1794) built the west-facing portion of the Castle Hill house in 1765. In 1750, Dr. Walker led an expedition into Kentucky, where he explored and named the Cumberland Gap.
On June 4, 1781, British cavalry commanded by Col. Banastre Tarleton swarmed around Castle Hill en route to Monticello in an attempt to capture Governor Thomas Jefferson and members of the legislature.
Local and family legend claim Walker’s lavish and leisurely breakfast delayed Tarleton, allowing Jefferson to escape.
Dr. Walker was instrumental in obtaining the bill in the House of Burgesses to create the town of Charlottesville, and he was involved with the sale of lots from his lands within the town’s borders.
On June 4, 1781, British cavalry commanded by Col. Banastre Tarleton swarmed around Castle Hill en route to Monticello in an attempt to capture Governor Thomas Jefferson and members of the legislature.
Local and family legend claim Walker’s lavish and leisurely breakfast delayed Tarleton, allowing Jefferson to escape.
Dr. Walker was instrumental in obtaining the bill in the House of Burgesses to create the town of Charlottesville, and he was involved with the sale of lots from his lands within the town’s borders.
Castle Hill passed to the 11th of Dr. Walker’s 12 children, U.S. Congressman Francis Walker.
After Francis died, his two daughters divided the 8,000-acre estate. Elder daughter Jane Frances Walker, wife of Dr. Mann Page, received the portion that is now called Old Keswick.
The portion containing the Castle Hill house went to younger daughter Judith Page Walker, who married U.S. Senator William Cabell Rives. Judith led efforts to build Grace Church, and she laid out Castle Hill’s spacious, slipper-shaped front lawn in 1832.
After Francis died, his two daughters divided the 8,000-acre estate. Elder daughter Jane Frances Walker, wife of Dr. Mann Page, received the portion that is now called Old Keswick.
The portion containing the Castle Hill house went to younger daughter Judith Page Walker, who married U.S. Senator William Cabell Rives. Judith led efforts to build Grace Church, and she laid out Castle Hill’s spacious, slipper-shaped front lawn in 1832.
Judith’s granddaughter Amélie Rives was a novelist, whose 1888 The Quick or the Dead was a scandalous best seller. Her first husband, John Armstrong Chaloner, was an eccentric philanthropist. His insurance policy allowed Grace Church to be rebuilt after its 1895 fire.
After her divorce, Amélie married Russian portrait artist Pierre Troubetzkoy, to whom she was introduced by fellow author Oscar Wilde.
The Rives and Troubetzkoys are buried in the wrought iron enclosure visible from the driveway to the east of the house.
An adjacent plot contains the graves of Col. and Mrs. Clark J. Lawrence, who purchased and lovingly restored Castle Hill in 1947.
After her divorce, Amélie married Russian portrait artist Pierre Troubetzkoy, to whom she was introduced by fellow author Oscar Wilde.
The Rives and Troubetzkoys are buried in the wrought iron enclosure visible from the driveway to the east of the house.
An adjacent plot contains the graves of Col. and Mrs. Clark J. Lawrence, who purchased and lovingly restored Castle Hill in 1947.
Previous owners placed the estate under a conservation easement, and the current owners have enhanced the grounds, which include a formal garden that was re-designed in 1947 by Alden Hopkins, landscape architect for Colonial Williamsburg.