Stratford Hall Plantation: Stratford, Virginia
January 8, 2005
Here is our latest trip to Stratford Plantation: October 1, 2005
Stratford Hall is the boyhood home of Robert E. Lee. The land was purchased by Thomas Lee in 1717 and built Stratford hall in the 1730s. The home was placed a mile from the Potomac River so that it would be out of the reach of Pirates canons. Thomas Lee at one point owned more than 16,000 acres of land in Virginia. As it stands right now, the property is 1600 acres.
Stratford Hall from the back. This is actually the side that we approach from. Guests of the Lee's would have arrived from the river and been brought up in a carriage.
The formal gardens and the smoke house
Another look at the gardens
The west side of the house
The barns
This black walnut tree was here when Robert E. Lee lived in the home.
The side door
The working gardens. Grapes vines are still producing.
Side of the barns
Two very happy goats
The building on the right is the kitchen.
The barns
These are the quarters for the house slaves
Another view from the front
This is the family burial plot
At night the Lee family raises from the dead and moves these stones around.
Stratford Hall from the formal gardens
The kitchen and smoke house
Looking towards the Potomac
The octagon
Fields and one of the slave cabins
Closer shot of the slave cabins
The fields up to the house
Spring House for keeping food cool. Water trickles through and the evaporation cooled enough to help preserve.
Trail down to the river
Looking out over the Potomac. It is miles wide.
Looking up stream on the Potomac
Looking at the house from the front