Oldal 109 [109]
nO | ==
HisTORIC GARDENS OF VIRGINIA
ESE ee — == =
called Shacco Will, living about 7 miles off who reckoned himself
78 years Old. This fellow pretended he could conduct us to a
Silver Mine, that lies either upon Eno River or a Creek of it,
not far from where the Tuscaruros once lived. But by some Cir¬
cumstances in his Story, it seems to be rather a Lead than a Silver
Mine. However such as it is he promised to go and shew it to me
whenever I pleased. To comfort his heart I gave him a Bottle of
Rum with which he made himself very happy."
Prior to the Revolution the estate, which up to this time had
been known only as Falling Creek, became the property of Archi¬
bald Cary, who changed the name to Ampthill, and for the third
time the iron works were put in operation. Though Colonel Cary
abandoned the old forge and used its pond for a grist mill, he built
new works on the original spot in 1760.
Known as “Old Iron,” Colonel Cary was chairman of the Vir¬
ginia Committee which drafted the first Declaration of Rights and
State Constitution in 1776, so it was not surprising that his iron
works were destroyed by Tarleton during the Revolution. The
square brick structure, now faded to a warm old rose, which was
built by him, has four rooms on each floor, with a long hall cutting
between. Distinction is found in the heavy paneling and interior
carving; in the inside blinds, and the gracefully designed windows
with deeply embrasured seats.
Flanking the dwelling, about sixty feet to the west, is a smaller
building of one story and a half, built also of brick laid in Flemish
bond. This was the colonial kitchen, its massive iron crane and
ample fireplace giving testimony of the lavish food once prepared
there.
Balancing the kitchen upon the east, a similar building stands.
But this house is paneled from the floor to its conical ceiling and
was used as a formal ballroom. Though now bare and cheerless—
even forbidding—its rich oak walls have responded to the tune of
harpsichord and flute, as they reflected against their polished sides
the frills of the dancers of the colonial minuet.
[66]