Bacon's Castle
Also known as: Arthur Allen HouseOff VA 10, Bacon's Castle, Virginia
Map
Coordinates:
+37.11096, -76.7197437°06'39" N, 76°43'11" W
Quadrangle map:Bacons Castle
Description
The fine old brick mansion in the lower part of the County, known as "Bacon's Castle", was built by Arthur Allen, ancestor of the Claremont Allens, in 1665. It was referred to as "Allen's Brick House." During Bacon's Rebellion, Major William Rookings, Lieutenant Robert Burgess and Captain Arthur Long, followers of Bacon, seized this house of Allen's and made a fort of it. It was thereafter known as "Bacon's Castle," "Castle" meaning fort. On the 29th of December, 1676, a fight occurred here between Bacon's followers and men from the British ship "Young Prince" lying in the James River. Captain Robert Morris of the "Young Prince" claims to have carried the fort. In the County records we find depositions made in 1677, which tell of the seizure of Allen's house and the behavior of the "Rebel Crew" while there. At the time of the American Civil War, "Bacon's Castle" was owned by Colonel John H. Hankins. His son, James D. Hankins, was captain of the Surry Light Artillery, C.S.A.
-- Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS VA-75)
National Register information
- Status
- Posted to the National Register of Historic Places on October 15, 1966
- Reference number
- 66000849
- Architectural style
- Other architectural type; Tudor cross plan
- Areas of significance
- Military; Architecture
- Level of significance
- National
- Evaluation criteria
- A - Event; C - Design/Construction
- Property type
- Building
- Historic functions
- Single dwelling; Battle site
- Current function
- Single dwelling
- Period of significance
- 1650-1699
- Significant years
- 1660; 1676; 1677
Update Log
- February 28, 2020: New Street View added by Michael Miller