Readbourne

Readbourne is a brick mansion built in the Georgian style in Queen Anne's County, featuring a T-shaped central section with a hip roof and Flemish bond walls. The building stands on a sprawling estate along the Chester River that commands views of the waterfront.

James Hollyday, a prominent politician of the Maryland Province, began construction of the central block in the early 1730s. The estate expanded over subsequent decades as new wings were added to the original structure.

The National Register of Historic Places included Readbourne in 1973, marking its contribution to American architectural and historical documentation.

The property sprawls across a large estate with access points along the Chester River, offering different viewpoints of the waterfront setting. Visitors can explore the grounds and experience the river location from various angles.

The building was developed in separate phases, with the south wing added in 1791 and the north wing completing the five-part Georgian composition. This gradual expansion across generations reveals how architectural choices evolved over time.