Berry Hill

Halifax County, Virginia

Berry Hill was built in the 1840's by the Bruce family (architectural design attributed to John E. Johnson, construction attributed to Josiah Dabbs). It is considered one of the finest examples of Greek Revival Architecture in the United States.

Berry Hill, Halifax County by Ellen Bruce Crane, included in Edith Dabney Tunis Sale, editor (compiled by The James River Garden Club), Historic Gardens of Virginia, The James River Garden Club, Richmond, VA, 1923.

Berry Hill by Bruce Williams Bruce, published in Frances Archer Christian and Susanne Massie, editors, Homes and Gardens in Old Virginia, Garrett and Massie, Incorporated, Richmond, VA, 1931.

Photographs of Berry Hill (circa 1933) from the Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, Historic American Buildings Survey, call number HABS, VA,42-BOSTS.V,1-

• Berry Hill with people in front
• Berry Hill from left angle
• Berry Hill from right angle
• Looking up driveway toward Berry Hill
• Berry Hill, showing part of Greek Revival outbuilding at left
• Rear of Berry Hill
• Side of Berry Hill
• Double staircase in front hall of Berry Hill
• Upstairs staircase at Berry Hill
• Drawing Room at Berry Hill
• Fireplace at Berry Hill
• Service area at Berry Hill
• 2nd photo of service area
• Outbuilding at Berry Hill
• Outbuilding at Berry Hill
• Greek Revival Outbuilding
• Greek Revival Outbuilding (it is my understanding that one of these Greek Revival Outbuildings was used as an office and one was used as a Billiards Room)

1939 World's Fair Photograph Collection from the Library of Virginia (prepared by the Virginia State Chamber of Commerce and displayed in the Virginia Room in the Court of States at the 1939 World's Fair in New York City)

• Berry Hill
• Boxwood Gardens in winter at Berry Hill

1948 (estimated) Sales Brochure for Berry Hill

• Sales Brochure
• Photograph of Drawing Room
• Photograph of Stairway
• Plot (survey)
• Floor Plan

Exterior and Hall of Berry Hill, as looked in the late 1970's (photographs by Henry H. Mitchell)

A few years ago, Berry Hill was sold and turned into the Berry Hill Conference Center, featuring dining, accomodations, and a conference and training center. It was then sold again, and operated as the Berry Hill Plantation Resort for a period.

As of late 2006, the future plan for the property is for it to be turned into a campus for Founders College.

For more information on Berry Hill, see:

• Roger J. Kennedy, Architecture, Men, Women, and Money in America, 1600-1860, Random House, c. 1985
• Fiske Kimball, Domestic Architecture of the American Colonies and of the Early Republic, Charles Scribners' Sons, 1922, reprinted by Dover Publications, 2001
• Mills Lane, Architecture of the Old South: Virginia, Beehive Press

Notes: the picture of Berry Hill above is HABS, VA,42-BOSTS.V,1-2, from the Library of Congress Historic American Buildings Survey (photograph edited by Sarah E. Mitchell). Some information in opening paragraph from Mills Lane, Architecture of the Old South: Virginia, Beehive Press, 1989, p. 189.

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