Melrose (Casanova, Virginia)
Historic house in Virginia, United States
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Melrose, also known as Melrose Castle, is a historic home located near Casanova, Fauquier County, Virginia. The house was built between 1856 and 1860, and is a two-story, five-bay, L-shaped Gothic Revival style dwelling. It features a three-story-octagonal tower in the center bay and castellation along the parapet. The house was enlarged considerably around 1920 through a large addition to the west end for expanded service areas.[3]
Melrose | |
| |
  Location within Northern Virginia  Location within Virginia  Location within the United States | |
| Location | North of Casanova on VA 602, near Casanova, Virginia |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 38°40′23″N 77°42′37″W |
| Area | 24 acres (9.7 ha) |
| Built | 1856–1860, 1920 |
| Built by | Holtzclaw, George Washington |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 83003281[1] |
| VLR No. | 030-0070 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | February 10, 1983 |
| Designated VLR | September 5, 1981[2] |
It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.[1]
History
Melrose was built between 1856 and 1860 by Philadelphia architect George Washington Holtzclaw for brothers Dr. James H. Murray and Edward Murray. They named it after Melrose Abbey, a castle in their ancestral home of Scotland. Melrose was occupied by Union soldiers during the American Civil War in April 1862, and it later served as a hospital.[4]
The property was first sold in December 1863, and then it changed hands many times. The 9,000 square-foot house and 50-acre wooded lot were listed for sale at $2.2 million in 2017.[4]
Cultural references
A visit to Melrose Castle inspired mystery writer Mary Roberts Rinehart to write her bestselling novel The Circular Staircase (1908).[4]
