Edgewood Plantation and Harrison's Mill

Edgewood Plantation and Harrison's Mill is a historic property on the north side of the James River in Charles City County, Virginia. The site lies along State Route 5, a scenic road connecting the Richmond and Williamsburg areas, and forms part of the historic plantation landscape of the James River. Although it is not a conventional consumer brand or commercial company, the name identifies a culturally significant estate that combines a nineteenth-century Gothic Revival house, an earlier gristmill site, and an association with major episodes in Virginia's colonial, Revolutionary, and Civil War history. The mill, commonly associated with the Harrison family and also referred to as Rowland's Mill, was built in the eighteenth century by Benjamin Harrison V of Berkeley Plantation. Its location reflects the agricultural economy of the James River plantations, where mills processed grain for nearby communities and estates. Historical accounts connect the mill with British military activity during the American Revolutionary War, including a visit by forces led by Benedict Arnold after his change of allegiance. The site was also used during the American Civil War. General J. E. B. Stuart reportedly stopped at Edgewood on June 15, 1862, while traveling toward Richmond to report on Union military strength to General Robert E. Lee. During the war, the mill processed corn for both Union and Confederate forces, while the upper level of the plantation house served as a lookout from which Confederate officers could observe the surrounding area. The present Edgewood house was constructed around the middle of the nineteenth century, generally dated to approximately 1849 or the period around 1854, for Richard S. Rowland. Rowland had moved from New Jersey to Charles City County to operate the gristmill on the property. The house is an unusually elaborate example of Gothic Revival architecture. Its central-hall layout contains a three-story staircase beneath four steeply pitched gables, creating a distinctive vertical profile unlike other plantation houses along the James River. It is described as the only Gothic Revival example of its kind in that river corridor. The property's later history reflects changing uses of historic estates. In the early twentieth century, Edgewood became the first restaurant in Charles City County, operating under the name The Blue Tea Pot. In its present role, the property functions as a heritage destination and hospitality venue. It has offered overnight rooms as a bed-and-breakfast, Victorian high teas, guided house visits, and themed tours. The grounds have been made available for daytime visitation, while interior tours are arranged by appointment. Edgewood Plantation and Harrison's Mill was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. Its significance rests on the combined architectural value of the Gothic Revival residence, the surviving historical associations of the mill, and the property's relationship to the settlement, agricultural, military, and tourism history of the James River region. Because the subject is a historic site rather than a branded product or corporate organization, information such as corporate ownership, financial performance, executives, stock-market status, and consumer product lines is not applicable or publicly established in the supplied references.

The history of Edgewood Plantation and Harrison's Mill spans the agricultural, military, architectural, and tourism development of Virginia's James River corridor. The mill component dates to the eighteenth century, when Benjamin Harrison V of Berkeley Plantation built a gristmill on or near the property. The mill served the plantation economy by processing grain and became part of the network of agricultural infrastructure supporting estates and settlements along the river. It was later known as Rowland's Mill in connection with Richard S. Rowland, who came to Charles City County from New Jersey to operate it. The site also acquired military associations during the American Revolutionary War. Historical accounts describe a visit by British troops commanded by Benedict Arnold. This association links the property to the period when the James River plantations and transportation routes were affected by military campaigns and raids. The current plantation house was built for Richard S. Rowland around the middle of the nineteenth century. Sources place its construction around 1849 and describe it as completed or established by approximately 1854. The building was designed in the Gothic Revival style, making it exceptional among the historic houses along the James River. Its traditional center-hall arrangement contains a prominent three-story staircase beneath four sharply pitched gables. The house's vertical massing and decorative form distinguish it from the more commonly encountered classical plantation architecture of the region. Edgewood played a role during the American Civil War. The third floor of the house was used as a lookout post by Confederate generals whose forces were encamped at nearby Berkeley Plantation. The mill continued to operate in wartime and reportedly ground corn for both Union and Confederate forces. On June 15, 1862, Confederate cavalry commander J. E. B. Stuart stopped at Edgewood for refreshment while traveling toward Richmond. He was reportedly carrying information about Union strength for General Robert E. Lee, making the property part of the landscape through which Confederate military communications moved during the Peninsula-related campaigns. After the Civil War and the decline of the plantation economy, the property was adapted to new social and commercial uses. In the early twentieth century it became Charles City County's first restaurant, known as The Blue Tea Pot. This change illustrates the broader transition of historic estates from agricultural centers into community, hospitality, and visitor-oriented properties. The property was formally recognized for its historical importance when Edgewood Plantation and Harrison's Mill was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. In its modern visitor role, the estate has offered lodging through rented rooms, Victorian high teas, guided tours of the house, and special themed programs. The grounds have generally been available for daytime visits, while guided interior access has been arranged by appointment. The property's heritage interpretation rests on the survival of its Gothic Revival architecture and its documented connections to the Harrison plantation network, the gristmill economy, the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, and twentieth-century tourism.

• 1982

  National Register listing

  [1]Edgewood Plantation and Harrison's Millen.wikipedia.org

  Edgewood Plantation and Harrison's Mill was listed on the United States National Register of Historic Places.

• 1862

  Civil War military visit

  [1]Edgewood Plantation and Harrison's Millen.wikipedia.org

  On June 15, Confederate General J. E. B. Stuart reportedly stopped at Edgewood while traveling to Richmond with information for Robert E. Lee. The house was also used as a lookout, and the mill processed corn for both armies.

• 1854

  House established in its documented nineteenth-century form

  [1]Edgewood Plantation and Harrison's Millen.wikipedia.org

  Sources also date the construction of the present house to approximately 1854. The building is noted for its three-story staircase, center-hall plan, and four steeply pitched gables.

• 1849

  Gothic Revival house constructed

  [1]Edgewood Plantation and Harrison's Millen.wikipedia.org

  Edgewood Plantation was constructed around this period for Richard S. Rowland, who had moved from New Jersey to operate the gristmill.

• Eighteenth-century mill established

  [1]Edgewood Plantation and Harrison's Millen.wikipedia.org

  Benjamin Harrison V of Berkeley Plantation built the gristmill later associated with Harrison's Mill and Rowland's Mill. The mill supported grain processing within the James River plantation economy.

• Revolutionary War association

  [1]Edgewood Plantation and Harrison's Millen.wikipedia.org

  Historical accounts associate the mill with a visit by British troops led by Benedict Arnold during the American Revolutionary War.

• The Blue Tea Pot restaurant period

  [1]Edgewood Plantation and Harrison's Millen.wikipedia.org

  In the early twentieth century, Edgewood became Charles City County's first restaurant, operating as The Blue Tea Pot.

A James River heritage property positioned around historic preservation, Gothic Revival architecture, Civil War and Revolutionary War associations, and experiential visitation.

1. 1Edgewood Plantation and Harrison's Millen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Edgewood Plantation — National Park Service National Register Travel Itinerarynps.gov