THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, February 16, 1997 TAG: 9702130062
SECTION: FLAVOR PAGE: F7 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Stephen Harriman
LENGTH: 42 lines
THIS LANCASTER area on the southeastern tip of land between the Rappahannock and Potomac rivers is worth a bit of exploring. Once known as the Chicacoan Indian District, it became Northumberland County in 1648 after English immigrants decided they wanted to settle there.
In 1652 part of the area was divided to form Lancaster, named for the county in England from which many Cavaliers came after England's Civil War.
Richard Lee, the progenitor of the famous Virginia family, patented land here in 1651. Another immigrant, John Carter, patented a huge tract before 1654 and called it Corotoman, but the place didn't become prominent until his son, Robert ``King'' Carter (1662-1732) made it the wellspring of another great Virginia dynasty. He built the remarkable Christ Church down near Irvington.
Mary Ball, Washington's mother, was born at Epping Forest, but grew up in Northumberland and Westmoreland counties.
If you want to make a weekend of the area, consider the Inn at Levelfields, a delightful B&B about a mile east of Lancaster Court House on Route 3.
The manor house, with a boxwood-lined brick pathway leading to a double-tiered portico, was built in 1857-58. Once the center of a 1,200-acre plantation, it represents the final expression of the authentic hip-roof Georgian colonial style architecture.
Refurbished and filled with family antiques and oriental rugs by Warren and Doris Sadler in 1984, the inn offers four large, well-appointed rooms. There is a large outdoor pool. B&B rates are $95 a night, per room, double occupancy. Info: (800) 238-5578.
Also in the neighborhood is The Mary Ball Washington Museum and Library, open 10-5 Wednesday-Friday, 10-3 Saturday; closed Sunday and Monday, open Tuesday by appointment only. For information, call (804) 462-7280. MEMO: [For a related story, see page F1 of THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT for this
date.]