Eppington
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Eppington | |
   | |
| Location | South of the junction of VA 621 and 602, near Winterpock, Virginia |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 37°17′45″N 77°43′37″W / 37.29583°N 77.72694°WCoordinates: 37°17′45″N 77°43′37″W / 37.29583°N 77.72694°W |
| Area | 1,750 acres (710 ha) |
| Built | c. 1768 |
| Architectural style | Georgian |
| NRHP Reference # | 69000230[1] |
| VLR # | 020-0025 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | November 12, 1969 |
| Designated VLR | September 9, 1969[2] |
Eppington is a historic plantation house located near Winterpock, Chesterfield County, Virginia. It was built about 1768, and consists of a three-bay, 2 1/2-story, central block with hipped roof, dormers, modillioned cornice, and flanking one-story wings in the Georgian style. It has a later two-story rear ell. It features two tall exterior end chimneys which rise from the roof of the wings. Its builder, Francis Eppes, was brother-in-law and first cousin of Martha Jefferson (1748–1782), the wife of Thomas Jefferson. After her death, Eppes and his wife raised Jefferson's two daughters, while their father was Minister to France. One of the daughters, Lucy Elizabeth, died in 1784 and was buried at Eppington. Mary (Polly) Jefferson (1778–1804), married in 1797 her cousin, John Wayles Eppes (1772–1823) and spent much of her time at Eppington.[3]
Epps Falls, at Eppington, were deemed dangerous for passing boats by the Virginia General Assembly. The General Assembly, in 1819, gave Archibald Thweatt, owner of Eppington, compensation from any damages but allowed the Upper Appomattox Canal company to build a dam and locks around the falls. Archibald Thweatt and his heirs were also given leave to build a grist mill on the dam.[4]
When the Upper Appomattox Canal Navigation System was complete, neighboring farmers could ship farm produce from the docks at Eppington.[5] There were large loading facilities. When coal was first mined at the Clover Hill Pitts, in 1837, it was taken by mule, later by rail, to the docks at Epps Falls. A boat that could carry seven tons of coal, made a four-day round trip to Petersburg for two dollars and thirty eight cents.[6]
It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1969.[1]
References
- 1 2 National Park Service (2010-07-09). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
- ↑ "Virginia Landmarks Register". Virginia Department of Historic Resources. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
- ↑ Virginia Historic Landmarks Commission Staff (July 1969). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Eppington" (PDF). Virginia Department of Historic Resources. and Accompanying photo
- ↑ Acts Passed at a General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Virginia. 1819. pp. 195–.
- ↑ Stith, M.D. (August 23, 1989). "Eppington: Crown Jewel of Chesterfield County" (PDF). Eppington Foundation. Eppington Foundation. Retrieved 2017-01-25.
- ↑ Gerald P. Wilkes (1988). MINING HISTORY OF THE RICHMOND COALFIELD OF VIRGINIA (PDF) (Report). VIRGINIA DIVISION OF MINERAL RESOURCES PUBLICATION 85. p. 10,29–30. Retrieved 2017-01-25.
