Page 431 [431]
REDLANDS
sy DLANDS, belonging to the Misses Polly Coles
sa and Sally Randolph Carter, is situated in Albe¬
iy | Za marle County on a high hill at the southern end
SND, be : ;
Set) | Of a range of mountains known as Carter's Moun¬
VI tains; on the northern end of this little range of
It is rather interesting that there are marked similarities between
the interior plans of these two houses, a fact to be accounted for
by the intimate friendship which connected the original owners and
their families.
Redlands, on its high hill, overlooks a fair and smiling country
which stretches on one side to the ever beautiful and poetic curves of
the Blue Ridge, and spreads on the front to the far extended, rolling,
wooded plateau, which for thirty miles or more stretches its length
through Albemarle and Fluvanna counties. It overlooks the “Big
Woods,” home of the partridges and wild turkeys, and, with its
far extended sweep and beauty, seems to challenge the imagination
of all who see it through the blue, sunlit, misty veil peculiar to
these foothills.
The house was built in 1789 by Robert Carter, son of Edward
Carter, of Blenheim, the younger brother of Charles Carter, of
Shirley, and grandson of Robert Carter, of Corotoman, who was
known as ‘‘King Carter.” Robert Carter inherited the southern ¬
portion of his father’s large landed estate in Albemarle County,
and on his marriage to Miss Mary Eliza Coles (known to her
family and friends as Polly), of Enniscorthy, he began the erection
of the dwelling. Together they laid out the lawn and garden
and the latter still retains the original plan on which it was designed
in 1798.
Like many Virginia and English gardens, that at Redlands was
a combination of vegetable and flower garden; it was and 1s laid
1268]