Rockledge, Mill Street, Occoquan, Prince William County, Virginia

Significance: The grist mill at Occoquan was justly celebrated and Rockledge was the home of builder, John Ballendine and later of Thomas Ellicott who developed Merchant's Mill (q.v.) to such a high state late in the 18th century. The Ellicott family imported an English tutor, John Davis, to superintend the education of their children. Davis kept an extraordinarily interesting and colorful diary. "Occoquan," he wrote, "consists of a house built on a rock, three others on the river side, and a half dozen log huts scattered at some distance. He found the settlement "romantic beyond conception" and spoke of the hills as "mountains." / House site is carved out of a rocky ledge, hence the name. In front there were small garden terraces. Building and retaining walls are fieldstone. The main block is two-and-a-half stories with gable roof and dormers. Chimneys are of brick, likewise the one-and-a-half storied wing and spring house. This wing on kitchen appears to have subsequently joined to the main building. It still contains bake ovens where the owner's flour was baked into bread and biscuits for commercial distribution. The house is distinguished by its bold and handsome modillion cornice across the front. Inside there is simple woodwork comprising six conventional mantels, chair rails, baseboard and cornices in the principal rooms.

Unprocessed Field note material exists for this structure: FN-136

Survey number: HABS VA-577

Building/structure dates: before 1761 Initial Construction

National Register of Historic Places NRIS Number: 73002051

houses georgian architectural elements fieldstone domestic life mantels fretwork hardware fireplace occoquan va rockledge mill mill street occoquan prince william county virginia images of fireplace mantels john ballendine william buckland historic american buildings survey photo ultra high resolution high resolution 18th century library of congress national register of historic places

1933 - 1970

Library of Congress

http://www.loc.gov/

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