Eyre Hall – Antiques, Gardens and a Letter from Lafayette

| February 4, 2024 | 9 Comments

[Post updated in 2024]

In my second installment about Virginia’s Historic Garden Week (HGW) Tours, I’m visiting Eyre Hall on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. This centuries-old plantation has been one of the enchanting properties included on the Eastern Shore HGW Tour every year since 1941 and soon you’ll see why.

This 1760 plantation home with its lush gardens and waterside views has been owned by the same family for 12 generations. If you have an interest in seeing the historic interiors of Eyre Hall, the only chance you’ll have is during Virginia Historic Garden Week. The 2024 Eastern Shore Home Tours will be held on Saturday, April 27th. You can buy tickets online here. These tours are held annually around the last week of April.

Eyre Hall Front Porch
The beautifully detailed front porch welcomes guests to Eyre Hall.

The property is a National Historic Landmark. It has been continuously occupied by generations of the same family since before the Revolutionary War. The home isn’t normally open to the public, so short of making friends with the owner, the last week of April is generally the only opportunity you’ll have to tour this historical beauty.

Eyre Hall Flowers Eastern Shore
Save to Pinterest

A Plantation with Southern Charm

Our party of four began the tour by driving the mile-long dirt road, lined with ancient cedars and crepe myrtles, then parked in the grassy area designated for the Historic Garden Tour visitors. We couldn’t have imagined the treasures we’d find inside the home as we approached the front porch with its traditional Southern “haint” blue ceiling. The intentional commitment to preserving the history of this family and the culture of the region was impressive.

The road to Eyre Hall
The mile long shady lane to Eyre Hall is lined with Crepe Myrtles and Eastern Red Cedars.

Eyre Hall is a living museum of stately architecture, antique furnishings, original paintings, and handcrafted decor, yet comfortably inhabited by its longtime owners since before the USA was born. Along the tour, we learned about items like the intricately painted wallpaper made by the French firm of Dufour around 1816 and called Les Rives du Bosphore (The Banks of the Bosphorus). In the library, we were excited to see an original 1826 letter from the Marquis de Lafayette to Robert B. Taylor (a member of the family) which mentions the passing of Thomas Jefferson and a previous visit to Norfolk, Virginia.

Sidenote: I can’t hear the name “Lafayette” without thinking of the now-famous song in the Grammy-winning musical, Hamilton. This was an unexpected connection and the chorus of the song ran through my mind the rest of the day…Hmmm…There it goes again.

1930 by Frances “Fannie” Benjamin Johnston (January 15, 1864 – May 16, 1952) Public Domain, via Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division
Eyre Hall Interior – 1930 by Frances “Fannie” Benjamin Johnston
(January 15, 1864 – May 16, 1952)
Public Domain, via Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division

Antiques and Living History

Now back to the tour…Eyre Hall has been lovingly preserved and the front room and stairway haven’t changed much since this photo from 1930. The card table to the right was crafted in Williamsburg, Virginia. It was purchased not long after the house was built and still finds a prominent place in the hall.

Upstairs I was astounded that a canopy bed built before the Revolutionary War was still being used by the current homeowner. The frame was modified to hold a modern mattress, but otherwise, it was the same as it had been 300 years ago.

As we passed through the various spaces I couldn’t help but envision the scores of people from all walks of life that have breathed life into this place. The original builders, craftsmen, and enslaved people who contributed the physical labor to bring the vision to reality down through the centuries. The business people, military, politicians, and dignitaries that held court here. And the families and friends, young and old, that graced the home with laughter, tears, authenticity, and imagination. There was even a violinist and friend who lived with the family. He took care of the many musical instruments that they owned, so we know the home was also filled with music.

Tulips on the Eastern Shore of Virginia

Learn More About the Home

As a private residence, you won’t be permitted to take pictures inside. If you’re interested in more details about the home check out this wonderful article from “The Magazine Antiques”. But while there are many treasures inside, please don’t assume that the home is all there is to see. A magnificent garden beckons when you walk outside the door.

Laurie Klingel of Appleseed Porch and Garden is the Head Gardener at Eyre Hall. She and her team have masterfully crafted these gardens into spaces that even Monet would admire. The ruins of an orangery and a small family cemetery are also on the grounds.

As expected, you’ll have some limits to access inside the home. But the current owner of the property, H. Furlong Baldwin, has graciously granted permission for the public to meander through these tranquil gardens anytime without an appointment. There’s even a path through the trees lined with daffodils that opens up to a beautiful vista of Cherrystone Creek. Be respectful of the family’s privacy and appreciative of their generosity when you choose to go.

I hope you have a chance to visit this magical place steeped in history and charm. If you can’t get to the tour in April at least enjoy a picnic in the garden.

Flowering Dogwood Tree and tulips surround a weathered wooden bench at Eyre Hall garden

Eyre Hall is Open Only Once a Year

Don’t forget to mark your calendar for the last week of April. Visit the Historic Garden Week of Virginia‘s website beginning in December to see the exact dates and tours available. You can usually buy tickets for the House and Garden Tours soon after that each year. The 2024 date to see Eyre Hall and other gorgeous homes and gardens on the Eastern Shore Tour is Saturday, April 27, 2024.

Did you know that there are over 30 tours of nearly 200 properties conducted in the last week of April each year? Every region in the state is represented. Properties from the Shenandoah Valley in the northwest to Martinsville in the southwest. Beyond the Chesapeake Bay on the Eastern Shore Peninsula to Old Town Alexandria in the northeast, plus many more.

Eyre Hall Eastern Shore of Virginia Garden
Save to Pinterest

I’ve toured homes on the Eastern Shore, Isle of Wight, and James River Plantations. I also visited Fredericksburg, Colonial Beach, Old Town Alexandria, Charlottesville, Norfolk, and more. I’m sad that I’m not living in Virginia anymore, but I still hope to get back for the tours in the coming years. Have you enjoyed a Historic Garden Week Tour recently? If so, what was your favorite destination and property? I’d love to get your recommendations for next time.

Want to hear more about these exclusive tours and other travels with purpose? Check out my 4-part series of posts with all the details about how the tours work.

All You Need to Know About Virginia Historic Garden Week

Then sign up to receive my monthly newsletter below.

small wrapped gift

I’ll look forward to hearing how you liked your tours! Please let me know if you have any questions at all. I consider myself somewhat of an expert.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Category: Virginia, Destinations, United States

Comments (9)

Trackback URL | Comments RSS Feed

  1. Nancy. Taugner says:

    May we tour Eyre Hall on he 27 April ?

  2. Nancy says:

    Nancy, In 2018 it will be April 28th. You can find more information about touring Eyre Hall at the Historic Garden Week of Virginia website.

    http://www.vagardenweek.org/main/tourdetails?id=386

  3. I love the idea of doing a garden tour and seeing so many great spots. Eyre Hall looks like a great spot to visit for historic charm as well as the gardens. Good to know it is only open once a year. So good to plan not to miss this one.

    • Nancy says:

      Yes! I love that these homeowners are willing to open their home to the public once each year and their gardens are open all the time. It’s a magical place.

  4. Angela says:

    I love exploring beautiful heritage houses and gardens and so was interested to read about this one in the USA, it looks absolutely lovely. We have open weeks for gardens over here in the UK which gives people a chance to visit places they might otherwise not be able to access.

    • Nancy says:

      Oh, I would LOVE to visit gardens in the UK! Everything is so green there already. I can only imagine the gorgeous flowers and plants that thrive there.

  5. Alma says:

    How beautiful! Definitely worth making sure one uses the one and only opportunity per year to visit Eyre Hall. I love looking at gardens and this one is stunning!

  6. Noufal Binu says:

    Hi Nancy🙂, Virginia One of beautiful place, When I will visit virginia I likes to Go eyre hall. I likes your article, very informative for travel enthusiast like me, thanks and keep sharing such article.

  7. Noufal says:

    Beautiful place, when i get chance i never miss that opppurtunity. thank you for sahring.

Leave a Reply

error: Content is copyright protected !!