Weston, an early-American treasure, is one of Fauquier County’s most completely preserved nineteenth-century farmsteads.
The property goes back to Robert “King” Carter’s land grant, while the present-day farmhouse, originally a 2-story log cabin, was built by the Fitzhugh family sometime around 1817. A classic example of an early Virginia working farm, Weston retains its rare collection of ten original agricultural and domestic outbuildings: log kitchen, smokehouse, overseer’s cabin; dairy, corn crib, blacksmith shop, tool shed/workroom, two barns and a stable.
The family of Charles Joseph Nourse owned Weston from 1859-1959, making several 19th century additions to the house and farming the land. Stories abound from the time when the family found refuge there during the Civil War throughout their 100 year ownership of the property. Charles’s daughters Charlotte and Constance were born and died at Weston. During their lifetime, Weston served as a weekend get-a-way for soldiers from the nearby army post, Vint Hill Farms Station; a summer camp for girls and a tea room. It is from here that the two sisters, both artists, sold their artwork to raise money to keep Weston a viable working farm.
Today, standing on 10 of its original 469 acres, the old house and its outbuildings are surrounded by giant oaks, sweeping lawns, woodlands and cornfields. The Casanova Hunt maintains its kennels on the property. Most of the furnishings in the house are original. Daily life of the Nourses can be seen in the remaining diaries, ledgers, letters and photographs.
Tags: Historical Place,Landmark