Mathews Manor was built about 1626 for Captain Samuel Mathews. The post-medieval Mathews Manor included a projecting porch and center chimney, both characteristic of Virginia's earliest substantial dwellings. Mathews's house burned about 1650 and was replaced with a smaller house nearby, probably by his son, Samuel Mathews, Jr. (1630-1660), governor of Colonial Virginia (1656-1660).
By the mid-18th century, it was owned by generations of the Digges family, first by Cole Digges, whose first name reflects his mother's Cole family. The Digges family referred to the property as Denbigh plantation and constructed a manor house nearby. Family members also owned Boldrup plantation in Warwick county as well as plantations in York County. Cole Digges and William Digges represented Warwick County as burgesses (and Cole Digges served on the Virginia Governor's Council) before the American Revolutionary War, and William Digges Jr. (who married one of his uncle's daughters) served in the a revolutionary convention and in the Virginia House of Delegates after he sold Denbigh plantation in 1787. His brother Cole Digges also served in the Virginia Ratification Convention.[3]
Modern timesedit
As the Newport News area developed in the early 20th century, part of Denbigh was sold to Mennonites, who continued to farm the land, as well as constructed a dairy and began residential development. Following World War II, Warwick County was reincorporated as Warwick City in 1952, then merged into the City of Newport News in 1958. Many former plantations became residential developments and/or industrial parks, but archeological research conducted first. Colonial Williamsburg's renowned archeologist Ivor Noël Hume excavated the Denbigh Plantation Site during the 1960s. His findings revealed much about early domestic life in the Virginia colony. In addition to the manor house, the site also includes several 17th-century industrial sites and the archeological remains of the 18th-century home of the Digges family. The foundations of both the Digges and Mathews houses have been capped and delineate their outlines, one with a historical marker in a small park at 10 Blacksmythe Lane. An 18th-century dairy and early 19th-century kitchen associated with the Digges homestead are still standing. The earliest known porcelain in Virginia, as well as other early artifacts, were found here during excavation. Although now surrounded by residential development, these sites are preserved within neighborhood parks.[3]
denbigh, plantation, site, also, known, mathews, manor, historic, archaeological, site, located, newport, news, virginia, national, register, historic, placesvirginia, landmarks, registerdenbigh, plantation, springhouse, 1930sshow, virginiashow, united, states. Denbigh Plantation Site also known as Mathews Manor is a historic archaeological site located at Newport News Virginia Denbigh Plantation SiteU S National Register of Historic PlacesVirginia Landmarks RegisterDenbigh Plantation springhouse in the 1930sShow map of VirginiaShow map of the United StatesLocation10 Blacksmythe Ln Newport News VirginiaCoordinates37 5 24 3 N 76 32 20 W 37 090083 N 76 53889 W 37 090083 76 53889Area390 acres 160 ha Built1630 1630 NRHP reference No 70000873 1 VLR No 121 0008Significant datesAdded to NRHPFebruary 16 1970Designated VLRDecember 2 1969 2 Contents 1 History 2 Modern times 3 References 4 External linksHistory editMathews Manor was built about 1626 for Captain Samuel Mathews The post medieval Mathews Manor included a projecting porch and center chimney both characteristic of Virginia s earliest substantial dwellings Mathews s house burned about 1650 and was replaced with a smaller house nearby probably by his son Samuel Mathews Jr 1630 1660 governor of Colonial Virginia 1656 1660 By the mid 18th century it was owned by generations of the Digges family first by Cole Digges whose first name reflects his mother s Cole family The Digges family referred to the property as Denbigh plantation and constructed a manor house nearby Family members also owned Boldrup plantation in Warwick county as well as plantations in York County Cole Digges and William Digges represented Warwick County as burgesses and Cole Digges served on the Virginia Governor s Council before the American Revolutionary War and William Digges Jr who married one of his uncle s daughters served in the a revolutionary convention and in the Virginia House of Delegates after he sold Denbigh plantation in 1787 His brother Cole Digges also served in the Virginia Ratification Convention 3 Modern times editAs the Newport News area developed in the early 20th century part of Denbigh was sold to Mennonites who continued to farm the land as well as constructed a dairy and began residential development Following World War II Warwick County was reincorporated as Warwick City in 1952 then merged into the City of Newport News in 1958 Many former plantations became residential developments and or industrial parks but archeological research conducted first Colonial Williamsburg s renowned archeologist Ivor Noel Hume excavated the Denbigh Plantation Site during the 1960s His findings revealed much about early domestic life in the Virginia colony In addition to the manor house the site also includes several 17th century industrial sites and the archeological remains of the 18th century home of the Digges family The foundations of both the Digges and Mathews houses have been capped and delineate their outlines one with a historical marker in a small park at 10 Blacksmythe Lane An 18th century dairy and early 19th century kitchen associated with the Digges homestead are still standing The earliest known porcelain in Virginia as well as other early artifacts were found here during excavation Although now surrounded by residential development these sites are preserved within neighborhood parks 3 It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1970 1 References edit a b National Register Information System National Register of Historic Places National Park Service July 9 2010 Virginia Landmarks Register Virginia Department Retrieved May 1 2023 a b A National Register of Historic Places Travel Itinerary James River Plantations Denbigh Plantation Site National Park Service External links editDenbigh Plantation Milk House Lukas Creek Road Newport News Newport News VA at the Historic American Buildings Survey HABS Denbigh Plantation Spring House Lukas Creek Road Newport News Newport News VA at HABS This article about a property in Newport News Virginia on the National Register of Historic Places is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Denbigh Plantation Site amp oldid 1213221313, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
