Little England, human settlement in United States of America
Little England is a Georgian brick house built around 1716 in Gloucester County, located near State Route 672 in Bena. The symmetrical five-bay facade features Flemish bond brickwork and a gabled roof, with interior colonial wood paneling and two chimneys that exemplify period craftsmanship.
The original land grant was given to the Perrin family by Virginia's governor in 1651, and they built the house around 1716. During the American Revolution, it served as a lookout point to monitor ships during the Battle of Yorktown.
The name reflects the English colonial land survey practices that shaped the original property divisions. The positioning and design reveal how colonial families built homes strategically on elevated ground to watch the river and surrounding land.
The house sits on about 70 acres of rural land and can be viewed from outside, though it is not regularly open to visitors. Historic records, photographs, and drawings from the 1930s are available through the Historic American Buildings Survey to research its history and architecture.
The house may have been designed according to plans by Christopher Wren, the renowned English architect, creating a rare connection to a major colonial-era figure. This attribution adds a remarkable layer to its architectural significance.
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