The Old House at Kendale Farm

From Tappahannock, take Rt. 17 North for 13.2 miles to Rt. 637. Turn right, go 1.1 miles to Rt. 661 (Kendall s Road). Turn right and go 1.9 miles to house. From Fredericksburg. on Rt. 17 South, go 13.7 miles south of Port Royal (intersection of Rt. 17 and Rt. 301) and turn left on Rt. 637

John Hill Carter Beverley, of the "Blandfield" Beverleys, was given this land by his family upon his marriage in 1880. There was an existing l830's outbuilding here that had a fireplace upstairs and down, and it is thought Beverley expanded this house for his bride. His great-grandson and his wife, the current owners, recently enlarged the Tidewater farmhouse to take advantage of the view of surrounding farmland and the Rappahannock River.

When Kendale Farm was divided several years ago, the owners chose this site because of their interest in landscaping, having always wanted to be able to garden on a large scale. They engaged the acclaimed landscape architectural firm Oehme, van Sweden and Associates, Inc. to design for them in the "New American Garden Style". Here, clusters of grasses and sweeps of colorful flowers and shrubbery change the scene several times within the seasons. Planting is environmentally suited for the region with the expectation that little maintenance will be needed. The owners say they are still in the learning stage with a developing wildflower meadow, located just beyond the kitchen garden. Open for the first time to Historic Garden Week visitors. Mr. and Mrs. W. Harrison Wellford, owners.