Some Information About Our Neighborhood
The following information is provided by the Ferry Plantation House
Fairfield
Mr. Forrest, in describing the style of architecture of the best dwellings of the early residents of Southeastern Virginia, says: "there are many of these old ante-revolutionary residences in the counties of Norfolk and Princess Anne. We shall speak especially of one in the immediate vicinity of Kempsville, about ten miles from this City, belonging to the descendants of Anthony Walke, Esq., one of the early settlers, to whom we have alluded on another page. This Dutch roof relic of antiquity is probably (in 1853) two hundred years old, resisting still the effects of time. The walls are more than four feet thick for some distance above the ground. The interior walls and ceilings are heavily wainscotted with black walnut, the passage is exceedingly spacious, and there are other architectural curiosities about it which form a striking contrast to the present style of building." This residence was on the Fairfield plantation, and passed by descent to parson Walke, in whose possession its early reputation for hospitality was fully maintained. The "Ferry" residence, larger than that of Fairfield, and constructed in a more modern English style a few years later, was owned by William Walke(4) (parson Anthony Walke's half brother), by whom and by whose children it was owned and occupied until burned in 1828. (See Note 8.) A considerable portion of the old family estate is still in the possession of the descendants of Colonel Anthony Walke(3).
From the "Private Record of The Walke Family in the United States; Brief Records and Recollections of The Walke Family and Relations in the United States" by Henry Walke, Rear Admiral, U.S.N., c1887
When Thomas Walke died in 1694, he had made provision in land for his two sons. His executors in 1697 purchased the land which was to become Anthony Walke's manor of Fairfield just south of present day Kempsville. Fairfield was an "almost baronial establishment" with liveried black servants, blacksmiths, wagon-makers, saddlers, and tradesmen imported from England. Fairfield manor house was destroyed by fire more than 100 years ago, but the name is perpetuated by a planned residential community developed on the site.
_The Beach_, K. M. Eighmey. Virginia Beach: City of Virginia Beach, 1976, p. 17-18
OCTOBER TWENTY-SECOND, 1914. - We left the train at Euclid Station, and following the carriage road to the right of the Railroad, walked about a mile and a quarter to Kempsville. Mr. H. C. Hoggard had told us that "Fairfields" is now owned by Mr. W. C. Cobb, so we had no trouble in getting directions at Kempsville. "Fairfields" is on the right-hand side of the road running from Kempsville to Great Bridge. The entrance from the road is about half a mile from Kempsville and the old mansion sat about a quarter of a mile from the entrance from the Kempsville-Great Bridge road. We were told by Mr. J. I. Herrick (an old man, who keeps a store in Kempsville and said he had lived there 60 years), that during the Civil War, while Mr. James Brickhouse, who had come from the Eastern Shore, lived at "Fairfields," a fire started in a pinewood which was at that time between Kempsville and "Fairfields." The fire got beyond control and destroyed the old mansion. Hr. Herrick remembered it as one of much spendor for its day, built of brick brought from England, with marble mantels, brass knocker and door knobs, &c. He says it stood between the present house, which was the kitchen, and the gate which opens towards the Norfolk Southern Railroad, and faces towards where the Railroad now runs. Grass is now growing over where the foundations must have been. The present house, which was the kitchen, is built of brick and from its size must have served also as part of the servant's quarters. It is now occupied by a Negro overseer and his family.
Across the Kempsville-Great Bridge road from "Fairfields" is a large brick house in good repair, said to be owned by Dr. Baxter. The house and plantation formerly belonged to James Walke. It is now in charge of a tenant.
Nobody was at home when we called and the front gate was locked. . . .
Across the road from the church is a large brick house in a yard with fine old water oaks. I was told several years ago by Mr. Thurmer Hoggard, Jr., that the Walkes had lived there. Dr. R. E. Whitehead now lives there and, thinking there might be some old cemetary attached, we inquired, but found there was none. Mrs. Whitehead said she had always heard that it was an old Walke homestead, but could not say what Walke lived there or when. The storekeeper, Mr. Herrick, confirmed what Mr. Whitehead said, but could give no further information.
The burying ground at "Fairfields" is about 200 yards from the present house to the rear and right of it and in part of the large grounds. Evidently it was originally enclosed by a brick wall which has now disappeared. . . .
^ top Anthony Walke Plantation
Anthony Walke Plantation
OLD FAIRFIELD HOUSE TO BE DEMOLISHED
^ top
It really doesn't look like much any more...the 17th
century little house, all that remains of Fairfield, home of Anthony
Walke, at Kempsville. Falling apart now, the sky shows through wide
holes in the steep roof. Weeds are high about the decaying house.
It seems unsafe to go inside, but we do, and it bears no resemblance to
the house we visited only a couple of years ago. Its fate was doubtful
then, as new homes sprang up like mushrooms in Kempsville. There were
many then who wondered what would become of the historical house. At
one point, a renovation was begun by developer W.W. Reasor. But
now it's abandoned to the elements, and most cruelly of all, to the
twisted whims of vamdals who have torn it apart and beaten upon it for
no reason at all. It's an embarrassment to all - because it stands as a
monument to the past about which nobody did anything. There
are those who look at it and sigh, shaking their heads and feeling
somehow, a sense of guilt - a guilt of omission. There are those who
tried - Reasor is one. "I bent over backwards on this house. I
offered it a year ago to the Historical Society for $10,000, the price
of the lot, if they would restore it. But can't blame the Society -
they hadn't the funds. This is the little house refrerred to by the
late Sadie Scott Kellam and V. Hope Kellam in "Old Houses in Princess
Anne Virginia," as ... "a little gem of a house. It is of that early
story-and-a-half, sharp roof type. The old hand molded bricks are laid
by the Flemish method, now, however, not noticeable because the bricks
have been whitewashed." They were told that the house was probably
the quarter kitchen of the manor house..."all that was left of the
buildings as they were in the days when that plantation vied
with Lawson Hall, Greenwich and Rolleston as dispenser of hospitality
in that part of the country."
After closer inspection, however, they came to the conclusion that it
was probably used as an office, lodge, or
coachman's house after the manor house at Fairfield was built.
Fairfield itself came to a tragic end one windy March day, perhaps in
1865, when it burned to the ground as a spark from the chimney ignited
the roof. But all that doesn't matter now, because the remaining
little house is going to be demolished anyway. A call to Reasor
last week revealed that he has a tentative commitment to a buyer and
the house will be torn down as a result. "Give me a week," I asked
him. "Just a week to let the people know this will happen." "All
right," he said. You have the week."
So there's the story - the final one of Fairfield. And
maybe the generations of Walkes, reportedly buried on a little ridge
not too far from the house, will stir a little and they'll know when
the house goes down.
But maybe there are those who care, and there are many,
will turn their efforts to the remaining old houses...and there aren't
too many left. Maybe they'll work harder to spare them the same fate.
Pleasant Hall? Reasor says, "They're letting that go
too." And when the little Fairfield house comes crashing
down, there will be some who will watch misty-eyed and wonder..."how in
the world did it happen?" But others, seeing it go, will say, "Good
riddance. It's no loss - it was old anyway..."
(Photo with caption: "Weeds choke the historical building in Kempsville")
_The Virginia Beach Sun_, 2/17/72, p. 1
^ top Fairfield Will Go
Fairfield Will Go
This is the postcript to the house at Fairfield, circa 17th century, which was marked for demolition.
A call from W.W. Reasor, Fairfield developed, advised us
that the contract had been signed and a builder will tear down the
house. Reasor had offered it to the Princess Anne Historical
Society for the price of the lot, $10,000, provided restoration was
begun at once on the house. The Society had not the funds to purchase
the house and Reasor stipulated that the sale must go through the
Society.So many people inquired of the house and visited it and offered
suggestions as to its salvation. We are deeply grateful to them. But
Fairfield will go, and very shortly.
There is, however, an interesting postcript: Reasor did
not call the Society making the offer, nor did the Society call Reasor
making an offer.-Helen Crist.
_The Virginia Beach Sun_, 3/2/72, p. 1.
- - - -
Photo in _The Virginia Beach Sun_, 6/22/72, p. 13.
Caption: ALL THAT REMAINS OF FAIRFIELD - Look closely at
the small pile of bricks, all that is left of the once vast
plantation of Anthony Walke at Fairfield in Kempsville.
There was regret and sadness when the final building fell
to the bulldozer to make room for a new houseing development.
Perhaps it will serve, though, as a reminder to those
interested in preserving historical homes and areas here, that action
is necessary to prevent total destruction of our heritage. (Photo by
Helen Crist)
Fairfield's Appreciation Substantial
Fairfield is one of those textbook cases. Buy a tract or
a lot or a house in the right location, keep the tone of the
development high and wait for appreciation.
That's what happened in Fairfield, a neighborhood of
Virginia Beach that lies on the west side of Kempsville Road, south
of Kemps Landing Elementary School and north of
Kempsville Colony subdivision. It extends westward to a finger of the
Eastern Branch of the Elizabeth River.
It was created in November 1967 when the developer,
Woodrow W. Reasor, a native of the Virginia mountains who came to
Norfolk in 1940, bought a farm from the heirs of J.
C. Hudgins for "slightly more than $1.5 million." The tract contained 390 acres.
The original price comes to slightly more than $3,846 an
acre. Expert testimony in a trial involving the prpperty in 1977 valued
theland at $14,000 an acre in 1972 and
$26,000 an are in 1977. Its value today can only be speculated.
A random survey of 11 houses built between 1969 and 1977
that were resold in 1982 showed the average original cost was
$58,209. The average resale price was $110,345.
Fairfield is laid out in a complex pattern of streets
that seems to defy logic. The thoroughfares curve and cul-de-sacs fan
out from them at irregular intervals. This keeps traffic noise at a
minimum and prevents monotonous views of houses and yards.
The houses are large -- a small model is a four bedroomer
with two baths; the larger ones have five bedrooms
and up to three baths. Brick is almost universal for exteriors. Most of
the designs are traditional Colonial and ranch modifications. There is
a moderate sprinkling of "For Sale" signs in the beautifully
maintained yards. . . .
_The Virginian-Pilot and The Ledger-Star_, Nov. 7, 1982, p.
F1, 3.
