West St. Mary's Manor
Encyclopedia
West St. Mary's Manor is an early Colonial-era house built between 1700 and 1730. The 1-1/2 story brick and frame house is located near St. Mary's City, Maryland
, and is an example of a William and Mary-era country house, representing a transition from early one and two-room plans to a more elaborate four-room center-hall plan. It was designated a National Historic Landmark
in 1970.
The interior comprises four rooms about a center hall running through the house. The main rooms are on the south side, with smaller rooms on the north. All of the first floor rooms have wainscoting and fireplaces. The chimney pents serve as closets for the main rooms. The center hall is divided by an arch, with a stair to the rear.
The house has been renovated and expanded with historically-sympathetic additions.
St. Mary's City, Maryland
St. Mary's City, in St. Mary's County, Maryland, is a small unincorporated community near the southernmost end of the state on the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay. It is located on the eastern shore of the St. Mary's River, a tributary of the Potomac. St. Mary's City is the fourth oldest...
, and is an example of a William and Mary-era country house, representing a transition from early one and two-room plans to a more elaborate four-room center-hall plan. It was designated a National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
in 1970.
Description
The gable end walls of the 40 by house are brick with double chimneys, while the front and rear walls are clapboard. A brick "chimney pent" is situated between the projecting chimneys at both ends. The front elevation, facing south, is five bays wide, while the north elevation is three bays.The interior comprises four rooms about a center hall running through the house. The main rooms are on the south side, with smaller rooms on the north. All of the first floor rooms have wainscoting and fireplaces. The chimney pents serve as closets for the main rooms. The center hall is divided by an arch, with a stair to the rear.
History
West St. Mary's Manor originally included 2000 acres (809.4 ha) granted to Captain Henry Fleet in 1634, the earliest grant recorded in Maryland. The house was built between 1700 and 1730, possibly by the family of Daniel Bell, who were one of 15 leaseholders for the larger property.The house has been renovated and expanded with historically-sympathetic additions.
External links
- West St. Mary's Manor, St. Mary's County, including photo in 2000, at Maryland Historical Trust
- West St. Mary's Manor, West Saint Mary's Manor Road, St. Marys City vicinity, St. Mary's County, MD: 5 photos, 2 data pages, at Historic American Building Survey