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Portrait of Elizabeth Fitzgerald
In our upper hallway, a portrait of a woman hangs. This woman, Elizabeth Fitzgerald, Countess of Lincoln, was once thought to be the most beautiful woman in England—even more beautiful than Queen Elizabeth I, herself.
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.
A Peek into our Gardens
For this month’s blog post, I took a moment to speak with Joseph Day, our Head of Horticulture and Maintenance, about our magnificent gardens here at Agecroft Hall.
Others in Early Modern English Society
What was the cultural makeup of Tudor and Stuart England?
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.
A Christmas Masque at Agecroft Hall, 1927
Agecroft Hall was rebuilt in Richmond in the late 1920s. In December of 1927, T.C. Williams, Jr. and his wife Bessie moved into the house and celebrated with two nights of glittering housewarming holiday parties.
A Very Brief Compilation of Census Data Relating to Agecroft Hall
The United States conducts a census survey every 10 years. The most recent one—as you probably know, was taken earlier this year in 2020.
Apotropaic Mark
Dr. Ian Tyers, a dedrochronologist from England, was here in 2016, inspecting and dating our wood panel paintings. While looking at our large panel portrait of George Poulet (1593), located in our Great Parlor, Dr. Tyers found something very neat! If you stand facing the fireplace and look at the fifth square up from the floor on the left-hand side of the fireplace, you will see a lightly inscribed daisy wheel (above), an apotropaic mark.
Michaelmas
During the 16th and 17th century, Michaelmas (pronounced mich-al-mis) was an important day, not only in the liturgical calendar, but also as an English quarter day—one of four days in the year when financial matters were traditionally settled.
A Portrait of a Unknown Gentleman by Adrian Thomas Key
Agecroft’s halls are filled with portraits, and they are some of the objects that prompt the most questions from visitors. This blog offers a wonderful opportunity to highlight a portrait this is not currently on view.
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.
Gentleman’s Study—Curiosity Cabinets
To understand the phenomenon of Curiosity Cabinets, we must first understand the mindset of European society in the early to mid-17th century. It was the tail end of the Italian Renaissance, and the height of the Elizabethan era.
Quarantine during the 1600s in England
It is said that history repeats itself, and those who do not learn from it are the ones doomed to repeat it. Well, as 2020 has proven, we are all seemingly repeating history with a plague outbreak.
Changing Times and English Calendars
I began researching this post with great intentions of writing up a piece about Lady Day and its importance as an English quarter day.
Icon, Kazan Mother of God
As anyone who has visited Agecroft Hall & Gardens knows, most of what is exhibited portrays life in Tudor and Stuart England.
Clavicytherium
In the centuries before television and the internet offered endless options for amusement, music was the primary form of family entertainment.
Agecroft Hall Guest Book
The Mortons entertained quite frequently at Agecroft Hall, as evidenced by the guest book now displayed in the Williams Library.
The Fanciful Chimney
Rising exuberantly above the roofline towards the sky, Agecroft Hall’s fanciful red brick chimneys are a striking contrast to its black timbers and white exterior and, also, a fine example of Tudor-era architectural magnificence.
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.
The Williams Library
In 1925, T. C. Williams, Jr. purchased Agecroft Hall, sight unseen, at an auction in England. The house was then dismantled, shipped to the United States and rebuilt in Richmond, VA.