West St. Mary's Manor

West St. Mary's Manor is a brick residence with four rooms arranged around a central hallway, sitting near the St. Mary's River. The structure features paired chimneys and a combination of brick gable ends with wooden clapboard on the front and rear elevations.

The house was built in the 1780s on land first granted to Captain Henry Fleet in 1634, representing Maryland's earliest recorded English land transfer. This long interval between the original grant and the house's construction reflects the slow transformation of the region.

The layout with a central hallway reveals how residents organized daily life in colonial times. This design pattern became common as households grew and needed better circulation between rooms.

The site is located about one mile east of Drayden and can be reached by following road signs from main routes in the area. Visitors should check accessibility before arriving, as visiting hours may be limited for this historic property.

The manor contains specially designed brick closets positioned between the projecting chimneys, serving as storage spaces for the main rooms on either end of the structure. This practical detail reveals the thoughtful way early builders maximized functionality in limited space.