families, is in Powhatan County about seventeen
miles above Richmond. Its two thousand and
sixty-five acres lie on the south bank of the James
‘| River for about three miles. It was originally
bought by John Heth, the great-great-grandfather
of the present owner, Mr. Charles Randolph Kennon, in 1813
from one John Harris. In those days the present home site was
called ““Greenyard,” possibly because of the lovely grove which
surrounds the house.
An extensive addition was made to the original residence in
1835 by Beverley Randolph, who then made it his home, he having
acquired it through his wife, Lavinia, who was the daughter of
John Heth.
The estate remains practically unchanged to the present time,
the succeeding generations keeping up its old traditions; Beverley
Randolph leaving it at his death to his son, Charles, who, dying
unmarried, left it to his sister, Nancy Kennon, and now the Kennon
name has owned it in direct line for three generations.
In the olden days it was a most lovely place, with its imposing
grove and beautiful gardens in the rear of the house. The back
was separated from the front by a privet hedge, which also sur¬
rounded the garden. |
In front of the house was a large park containing some fifteen
acres, enclosed by an osage orange hedge. The approach was by
a long, curved driveway following this hedge. The front lawn,
with its beautiful trees and grass, was separated from the park by
a semi-circular arbor-vitae hedge.
In the rear of the house about three acres was enclosed by a
privet hedge, and was laid out in flower beds which it was the