Historic property is ideal as a family home, wedding venue or bed & breakfast
With the splendor of a country estate, this home is the perfect retreat for both small family gatherings and grand entertaining. Known as Guildford Farm, the New England-style mansion’s original structure was built in 1790, and it is situated on 91 acres of rolling hills, overlooking a two-acre pond.
Located at 743 Welsh Run Road, Guildford Farm includes five bedrooms, five bathrooms and more than 7,600 square feet of living space. It is listed for $2.3 million by Ginger Slavic in the Charlottesville, Virginia, office of Long & Foster| Christie’s International Real Estate. The home is north of Charlottesville, less than two hours from Washington, D.C., and just three miles off Route 29.
“This is a rare opportunity to own a slice of American history,” said Slavic. “Not only would Guildford Farm make a delightful family home, but also its romantic and picturesque-setting gives it income potential as an elegant wedding venue or charming bed-and-breakfast.”
In 2003, the current owners began a three-year renovation of the home and paid meticulous attention to preserving its special architectural features. After hosting the weddings of their sons and several friends, they opened Guilford Farm as a venue to hold Virginia weddings with grace and style.
Driving down the long tree-lined driveway, you will first notice the property’s well-kept grounds and the majestic Blue Ridge Mountains in the background. The first glimpse of the home is striking with its white clapboard siding, expansive front porch and vibrant red front door. A balcony is accessible from the second floor and serves as the perfect spot for morning coffee while enjoying views of the estate.
Entering through the front door, you are welcomed into a gracious foyer, where you will see the formal dining room and living room with original wide heart-pine floors. The 10-foot ceilings and seven-foot windows give the home an airy and light-filled ambiance. On this level, you will also find a bedroom and full bathroom.
It is easy to prepare a family meal or have your catering team cook for a crowd in the spacious country kitchen with granite countertops, a double oven, fireplace and beamed ceiling hand-cut from large logs. A staircase leads from the kitchen for easy access to the second-floor master bedroom.
Upstairs, there is a spacious master bedroom suite and two additional expansive en suite bedrooms. A staircase leads to a third-level enclosed porch with many windows. Rare for this area, the home features a captain’s walk (also known as a widow’s walk), which is typical of homes located near the sea and were built for a captain to watch for his ships or a wife to search for her husband to return from sea.
The terrace level offers a large recreation room with a bar, bedroom, full bathroom and plenty of natural sunlight. You will also find a unique and historic room with walls of stone, beamed ceilings, windows and a fireplace, which was likely the original part of the house.
Outdoors, the large stone patio is the perfect place for drinks before dinner, al fresco dining or stargazing at night. For true relaxation, step into the hot tub in the pavilion. The serene pond is an angler’s delight and a hill overlooking the pond is often the setting for waterside wedding ceremonies. The rustic barn, equipped for a catering team, is a chic wedding reception venue with plenty of space for guests.
Learn more about 743 Welsh Run Road by clicking here.
For more information about Long & Foster, visit LongandFoster.com.
Photos: To view and download high-resolution images of Guildford Farm, click here.