Rosewell Ruins…where the past is a presence.

Rosewell Ruins, Summer 2023

The ruins of one of the finest mansions built in the colonies sit on the banks of the York River in Gloucester County, Virginia. Here you may see the brickwork and grace of form and scale which has inspired poets and architects since Thomas Jefferson. Began in 1725, Roswell was home to the Page family for more than 100 years.

John Page, grandson of the builder, attended William and Mary with Jefferson: and it was here that the two young patriots first began to explore what lay ahead for the emerging nation and which they would play such an important role. Though silently changed by later owner and ravaged by time and economic hardships, Roswell was still regarded as a place of grandeur and importance.

Through the lean years following the War Between The States, parties and dances continued in the Great Hall. Finally in 1916 a tragic fire swept the mansion leaving a magnificent shell which is a testament to 18th century craftsmanship and dreams.

What remains are the four chimneys, the east wall with the regional compass head window completes with carved keystone, the wine cellar, and enough of the walls that one may send the proportion and scale of this unique structure.

The Visitor Center at Rosewell is open and hosts a beautiful display of artifacts, photographs, and a video showcasing the properties rich history.

Roswell is convenient to Williamsburg, Yorktown and Jamestown. Picnic tables and open spaces invite families to spend the day together in the beauty of rural Gloucester County and then the shadow of the 18th century. For more information, visit the official Roswell foundation website.

The Rosewell Ruins and Visitor Center are now under the management of the Fairfield Foundation. For more information about what we do and our other properties that are open for tours, please visit fairfieldfoundation.org or email fairfield@fairfieldfoundation.org.