Carter's Grove

Carter's Grove is a colonial plantation in James City County, Virginia, stretching across wooded slopes along the James River. The three-story 18th-century mansion sits on elevated ground overlooking forests, meadows, and the river below.

The plantation was built between 1750 and 1753 for Carter Burwell, a grandson of the wealthy landowner Robert King Carter. Archaeological work in the 1970s uncovered remains of an English settlement from the 1620s that was destroyed during a Native American uprising.

The mansion displays sophisticated colonial architecture with intricate moldings, paneled walls, and detailed cornices crafted by English joiner Richard Bayliss.

The estate covers several hundred acres with woodland trails, garden areas, and reconstructed outbuildings along the river. Access to the site is through a winding driveway that passes through open grounds toward the main house.

Excavations on the grounds uncovered Wolstenholme Towne, an English settlement from the early 1620s that was abandoned in 1622. Artifacts such as weapons, tools, and household items reveal the daily life of early colonists in Virginia.

Location: James City County

GPS coordinates: 37.20698,-76.62482

Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:29