Please note that we recently underwent a redesign and redevelopment of our website and are in the process of back-posting our 280+ blog posts for Ask the Past. Rest assured that all of the information still exists and will soon appear here again. We appreciate your patience as we work through deep history of posts — thank you!
The Harrowing Haze of Heraldry
While researching this blog post, Google suggested the joke “Why do heralds not pun?” The answer? “They just cant.”
Ticktock Goes the Willard Clock
A Simon Willard, Roxbury-style, tall case clock stands in the Williams Library here at Agecroft Hall.
A Roaring 20's Afternoon Tea
During the holiday season, Agecroft Hall is dressed to impress. While wreaths and garlands abound, a special piece of our collection can be spotted in the Williams Library—the Williams Silver Tea Service.
Priest Hole
In the servants’ quarters on the upper floor of Agecroft Hall, there lies a secret space. What appears to be a solid, built in, shelf actually has a false back which, when pushed, reveals a concealed space—our replica priest hole.
The Fall of Anne Boleyn
Today, high-profile divorces are reported as breaking news. There have been many epic divorces throughout history. Divorces among famous and influential people can cause a stir amongst the general public.
Why Rebellion? Wyatt's Rebellion
Insurrections and rebellions against the ruling government are common throughout history. While we in the United States are used to stable and smooth transitions of power in our government, the events of January 6, 2021 are not uncommon when one looks back in history.
Who are the John Tradescants?
At the far end of our gardens, past the formal Sunken Garden, sits the Tradescant Garden. Here, our horticulturalists have planted a variety of plant life, using garden inventories of the John Tradescants as a guide when choosing the plant material.
Charles Gillette: Gardens in Virginia
Much of the credit for Agecroft Hall’s elegant gardens belongs to the designer who originally laid them out: Charles Gillette. Beginning his career in New York, Gillette was a landscape architect best known for his work in the South during much of the first half of the 20th century.