Belle Grove Plantation – Greek Revival

Berry Hill Plantation

May. 24th 2012

In researching other plantations, we wanted to make sure that we looked within our own state of Virginia. We searched for a plantation that was being used as a bed and breakfast so we could take notes of things we want to do, things we don’t want to do and things that we never thought of. This brought us to the Berry Hill Plantation in South Boston, Virginia.

This plantation sits on 650 acres and is one of the largest plantations in Virginia. The main house was built in 1842 by James Coles Bruce, a Virginia delegate ad landowner. The main house was modeled after the Second Bank of the United States in Philadelphia and is a great example of Greek Revival architecture.

When you arrive, you drive along a long tree lined drive way that rolls pass fields that are dotted with old stone slaves quarters. In the distances you see on a small hill, what looks like a Parthenon style home with a circular drive. On either side are two smaller versions of the main house.

As you enter the main foyer, you are greeted by a sweeping floating staircase that is a copy of the same staircase in the Second Bank of the United States.

On the left side of the home, you have the formal parlor and library rooms.

Just behind the library are windows that look out into the conservatory and back court yard.

On the right side of the home are rooms that have been turned into a small restaurant called the Carrington. These rooms are filled with family photos and are decorated in period style.

The back courtyard has two wings extending off the back. One is the newer Reception Hall, the other is the older Kitchen.

The main house has two bedrooms suites, both upstairs. They include a full bathroom and a separate sitting room.

Berry Hill has been turned into a conference center as well. You wouldn’t know it coming up to the main house, but behind a small hill is a 92 room hotel and conference center. It offers an indoor pool, spa, exercise room, his / her saunas and tennis court. They also offer guided historic tours of the main house. On Saturdays and Sundays, the Reception Hall opens to the public for brunch. On our visit here, we had the chance to meet the owner, who lives in Baltimore and had a chance to discuss the ins and outs of his B&B. Their main focus is on Business Conferences and Weddings.

The one thing that struck us about Berry Hill was the architectural detail the main house had as well as the historic significance of the home and grounds. Below are some of the details that caught our eye.