Westover Plantation From spring to summer,  its magnificent here for strolls, the kind we paranormal lovers have....nice and ssssllllooowww. And in the fall, forget it, incredible.  They say no place is prettier than Virginia in the fall.  One trip here and it'll make a believer out of you, I guarantee it.  This place isnt just haunted, its haunted by time...

Scroll down for the history and investigative scoop...

 History: ( from Jamesriverplantations.org)

Westover was built circa 1730 by William Byrd II, the founder of Richmond, VA, on land purchased by William Byrd I from Theodoric Bland (like the Byrds, the Blands were early Virginian planters class and merchants, later generations were friends with founding fathers  may have signed Declaration of Independance). Another historical reference has the home built AFTER the death of William II, in about 1750.

The house is noteworthy for its secret passages, magnificent gardens, and architectural details. Westover was named for Henry West, fourth Lord Delaware and son of Thomas West, Governor of Virginia. The shady tulip poplars framing the building are more than 150 years old. "Ancient" is the best word to describe the boxwood hedges which enclose the lawn.

The house is considered one of the most outstanding example of Georgian architecture in America. Of special notice is the unusually steepness of the roof, the tall chimneys in pairs at both ends. Another special touch is the elaborate doorway, which continues to be recognized as "the Westover doorway" despite its adaptation to many other buildings.

The special charm of the house lies in its elegant yet extremely simple form and proportions, combined with its perfect setting in the landscape, the essence of the artistic ideals of its period adapted to the style of living in Colonial Virginia.

The two wings were originally identical and not connected to the three-story central structure. The east wing, which once contained the famous Byrd library of more than 4,000 volumes, burned during the War Between the States.

The present east wing was built about 1900, and both wings were connected to the main home at that time.

 Just east of the house is the ice-house and a small structure containing a dry well with passageways which led under the house and to the river, as an escape from the Indians. Each building has a light switch just inside the door. Across the driveway from the ice-house is the Necessary House.

Turning from the river to the north side of the house, the visitor will find the famous Westover gates, with William Evelyn Byrd's initials incorporated in the delicate ironwork. The lead eagles on the gateposts are a play on the name "Byrd." The wrought-iron fence has supporting columns topped by unusual stone finials cut to resemble an acorn for perseverance (from little acorns great oaks grow); a pineapple for hospitality, a Greek Key to the World for knowledge; a cornucopia, or horn of plenty: a beehive for industry; and an urn of flowers for beauty.

Continuing to circle the house, the visitor will come to the formal gardens, which were re-established about 1900. At the center, where the paths cross, is the handsome tomb with its interesting epitaph honoring the colorful William Byrd I, "Black Swan of Westover," who was buried there in 1744.

His daughter, the beautiful and tragic Evelyn Byrd, is buried near the original site of Westover Church, up the river a quarter-mile west of the house. There also are buried Theodorick Bland, from whom William Byrd I bought the Westover property in 1688; William Byrd I and his wife, the former Mary Horsemanden; and other distinguished early Virginians. Here also, according to some historians, is the third oldest known tombstone in America--that of Captain William Perry, who died August 6, 1637. The arms and epitaph engraved on this stone have been effaced by the elements in recent years.

Haunted History: There could be many hauntings going on here. First and foremost, Evelyn, a beautiful (see photo at top left of this page) but tragic figure who fell in love with a catholic guy (her Father William Byrd II was a staunch Protestant) and, when her father caught wind of it, threatend to cut her out of the family entirely if she married him (NOTE: before we castigate ole Willy II, remember we are talking about Colonial Virginia here). She came back to Westover, distraught, apparently for some time lived off the main house in a small cottage by herself until She died in 1737. The first sighting of Evelyn as a ghost was by her Friend in life, Ann Harrison, from neighboring Berkley plantation, in about 1738.  Ann saw Evelyn walking though the old Weston Parish Cemetery (which housed the Byrd family plot) near her grave.  There have since been several sightings of Evelyn, including the following report given by a guest in the house in the 80s" "I looked out the window onto the garden and saw a glowing, splendidly dressed young woman who, upon noticing my gaze from the window, motioned with her left hand for me to leave the window, which I did at once" (From LB Taylors Ghosts of Richmond).  There not alot on the internet to report due to the fact that the house is privately owned and visitors are allowed only during the special functions.  I have personally talked with the owner, who is in the Byrd lineage, and we did not address hauntings but I have a feeling he would have laughed at the mention of it.  Just seemed to be a very work focused man and I doubt he would humor paranormal interests. Just my feeling.

Other tragic incidents in the house include:

• William Byrd III Killed himself in the upper bedroom after experiencing constant worries over finances.  Byrd III gambled and blew much of the family fortune, it is said.  He is buried in an unmarked grave in the cemetery there.
• WIlliam Byrd III's wife, Elizabeth, was killed downstairs when an enormous bookcase fell on her.

Investigation Findings:

I have been to this property many times over the years, it's a personal favorite of mine.  I have not captured alot of orbs, shadows, EVPs, all the "good stuff"  here but I don't need it here. I feel the timeless presence of the Byrd line without a doubt, and thats enough for me. I am NOT a psychic medium and cannot see/talk to spirits. But I certainly do have feeling and am highly tuned to "changes" in my environment and consciousness.  I cannot say for certain that what I sense is male or female but whatever is there has been there for a long, long time and doesnt want to be bothered, I can assure you, nor will it bother you.  Particularly back in the cemetery (see photos below) and in the garden by the house (see photo), something hits you and you just know your not alone really. Now,I'm not saying I feel as though I'm 'being watched', its not like that,  leave your conventional "ghost tracker" stuff at the door at Westover.  What you will feel as that it's YOU who is doing the watching, seeing time just sort of stop at certain moments and knowing that someone or something is still there when the feelings gone. I dont know how else to characterize what I know I feel there.  People, books, and the internet will make all sort of claims, the ghost of William III crying at his desk, also poltergiest activity. I have found NO evidence to support any of this jibberish.  You have to go there yourself and draw your own conclusions. For me, there is no need to 'investigate' what I already know about Westover.

The epitaph on Evelyn's gravestone is a SHOWSTOPPER. I have included two photos (see below).

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 Here are the people buried in the cemetery. In the days of Early Byrds, there was a church here and cemetery but it burned down and was relocated.  Im sure there are alot of persons buried here but only a few are marked, the ones on the plague all have gravestones. Note that you do not see William Byrd III here,  historians are 99 percent sure he is buried here on the basis of family information passed down through generations. He is  probably on the other side of Evelyn or in the general vacinity inside the iron gate (see below).

Heres the gated cemetery. Thats Evelyn as you ente the gate, immediately at right.  Beside her is Mary Horsemanden, wife of William Byrd I, and beside her is William Byrd I.  The sea captain, Perry, is buried across from here along the opposite fence to the far right. His grave may be one of the oldest in North America at 1637. He is buried alongside Col. Walter Aston and his son.  The wife of William Byrd III is probably also here, I havent found any information indicating that she was buried elsewhere ( same with her husband, William Byrd III).

Here is Theodoric Bland, the man who sold the Westover property to William Byrd I, Cpt. Perry, and Col. Walter Aston and son.

Heres the good Captain. They emplaced these iron plaques at the foot of the originals because, as you can see,  the original stones have deteriorated with time.  Its amazing  that Evelyn's tombstone has lasted this long and is in such pristine condition. 

Presidential fame: Here is Benjamin Harrison III (1673-1710) of Berkeley Plantation (next to Westover), from whose line eventually came no less than 2 American Presidents and a signer of the Declaration of Independance.  He was a brilliant lawyer who developed new laws in the Colonies.  Benjamin died of a heart attack while playing a game of cricket, he was only 37.   The stone of his wife, Elizabeth Burwell Harrison (1677-1734), is next to his. Elizabeth had it rough after Bennie died suddenly and had to sell off many acres of thier land to pay his debts.  Her gravestone has a beautiful Burwell family crest on it but in general the stone has deteriorated badly. It has cracked literally in half and theres some blue work tarp over it with old paint cans keeping it in place.  I hope somethings done about this, as this unceremonious tarp is NOT befitting of the the woman's stature in American history as the Grandmother of a signer of the Declaration of Independance and the line from which history drew two Presidents...

Lets hope theres not trouble in paradise: William Byrd II, founder of the city of Richmond, builder of the mansion which stands today. With him is his wife, Lucy. The two who had famous arguments, including the episode during which they had eachothers slaves beaten, to spite one another. William apparently made Lucy pluck her eyebrows , feeling that her eyebrows were in some way different than the other wealthy planters wives and that other Gentry class associates might notice it and take it as 'individualism.'  uh, ok, william. WIlliam is also the father of Evelyn, who told her that if she married a catholic he would "cut you out of my life and look to you as something despicable." William Byrd II's journals were discovered in a box only 10 years ago, which was a treasure trove of insight into the lives of Colonial gentry class. This grave is in the very center of the garden, not in the cemetery. Below is a corridor of the garden nearing the grave. No, thats NOT a ghost at the end or the corridor, its a little statuette of an angel.

                                               The last three are for good measure!!

A cool site and a must-see for those interested in battlefield hauntings

Evelyn Byrd:  The Daughter of William Byrd II, She died of a broken heart in 1737. Does she still roam the gardens? 

Scroll below to see the INCREDIBLE epitaph on her tombstone. 

 The old Westover Parish Church cemetery, where Evelkyn Byrd is buried along with her Grandparents. 

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