Magnolia Grange Photos courtesy of Virginia Department of Historic Resources

Prominently situated in Chesterfield Court House, the 1823 home of William Winfree survives as a sophisticated Federal style plantation home, the finest of this style in the county. Many of the owners of Magnolia Grange held public office and were instrumental in dictating the county's political development. The name Magnolia Grange derives from a circle of magnolia trees and formal boxwood gardens that once graced the lawn, destroyed after the Civil War to cultivate further farmland.

 

One of Magnolia Grange's Federal mantels Photo courtesy of Virginia Department of Historic Resources

The well-preserved house was based on designs from Asher Benjamin's American Builder's Companion (1806), an architectural pattern book used widely by Virginia builders. The house retains virtually all of its ornate woodwork; most significant are elaborate ceiling medallions and the Federal mantels with slender Ionic columns supporting an embellished entablature and deeply molded cornice. The house was restored in the 1970s, with extensive marbelizing and the installation of Zuber scenic wallpaper. In 1984 the site was acquired by Chesterfield County and is now a museum administered by the Chesterfield Historical Society. A variety of living history programs offered at Magnolia Grange bring the 19th century to life.

Magnolia Grange is located on the north side of Virginia Rte. 10, at 10020 Ironbridge Rd., in Chesterfield Court House. It is open daily for tours. An admission fee is charged. Please call 804-796-1479 or visit the Chesterfield Historical Society for further information.