Thursday was absolutely gorgeous so I went to visit Hampton, a National Historic Site. This property is just off I-695 in Towson. We have driven by it a number of times and I have always wanted to go. My initial impression was that this property is very much like a National Trust property in the UK and no wonder. It is a Georgian mansion built from 1783-1790 and family home to the Ridgelys from 1790 until 1996 when the last resident descendant died.
The Ridgelys first made their fortune in ironwork during the Revolution and then the Civil War. They were also traders of firstly tobacco and then grain. In addition, they were racehorse breeders. Hampton was primarily a slave plantation with over 300 slaves at a time. In the 1948, the Ridgelys could no longer afford their lifestyle due to a lesser need for their goods, the Great Depression and mismanagement. They sold the house to a foundation (who later transferred the property to the National Park System) and moved across the street to the family farm. In 1996, Lillian Ridgely died and the farm property transferred to the National Park Service as well. It is quite a jewel and worth the visit.
The Ridgely coat of arms includes a stag and three stars. I am sure at one time there was a reason for each, but no one knows the significance anymore, if there ever was one.
The carpets were pretty awesome even if they were slightly gaudy.
My kind of pedicure set-up
This is a painted window shade. They were very pretty with light streaming through them.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
The Ridgelys first made their fortune in ironwork during the Revolution and then the Civil War. They were also traders of firstly tobacco and then grain. In addition, they were racehorse breeders. Hampton was primarily a slave plantation with over 300 slaves at a time. In the 1948, the Ridgelys could no longer afford their lifestyle due to a lesser need for their goods, the Great Depression and mismanagement. They sold the house to a foundation (who later transferred the property to the National Park System) and moved across the street to the family farm. In 1996, Lillian Ridgely died and the farm property transferred to the National Park Service as well. It is quite a jewel and worth the visit.
The Ridgely coat of arms includes a stag and three stars. I am sure at one time there was a reason for each, but no one knows the significance anymore, if there ever was one.
The carpets were pretty awesome even if they were slightly gaudy.
My kind of pedicure set-up
This is a painted window shade. They were very pretty with light streaming through them.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
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