Buckingham Houses: Chellow
Chellow. Photo Courtesy Virginia Department of Historic Resources
In 1936, Rosa G. Williams surveyed Chellow for the Virginia Historical Inventory. At the time, the house stood empty. The caretaker was a son of a former slave owned by the Hubbard family. Mrs. Williams wrote:
Chellow Plantation is part of a grant of 6,740 acres, originally in Albemarle County, now Buckingham County, Virginia. Patented to Colonel John Bolling, July 20, 1748. Chellow was named for an old English Estate of the Bollings.
The home is a very imposing example of colonial architecture, consisting of ten rooms. You must enter the front by way of a “T” shape hall, to the right as you enter is a large bed room, to the left is a large library or living room, to the center of this hallway is a door leading to a lovely dining room, with French windows, lovely old doors with locks on them that were imported from England with brass keys. A side hall leads to the rear of this house. A lovely wide winding stairway leads to a large upstair hall. In this hall is a built in bookcase with many valuable books. In the center of this hall are double doors leading to an upper porch with French windows on either side of the door. The porch runs about three-fourths of the length of the house.…
The “old kitchen” still stands, but has been restored, it stands in the east corner of the yard. There was once a covered walk way leading from the kitchen to the main house, to protect the food from the weather. The yard is a thing of beauty, it contains two acres and is kept in perfect condition. Many of the old trees still stand, among them is a large oak, twenty odd feet in circumference, the sole survivor of the original trees that shaded the spacious lawn.
Aunt Mary Bolling’s garden at Chellow was known through the country as one of the most beautiful of its day, there are still signs of it, some of the old roses still bloom there.
The beautiful situation, the secluded location, the old house spring from which an abundance of crystal water flows, the tall trees, the extensive view, the gorgeous sunset beyond the mountain, the very atmosphere of the place, its history and its traditions, all combine to make Chellow a delightful and restful abode in these days of hurry, worry and painful uncertainty.
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On Sunday, 23 April 2017, Historic Buckingham will hold its Spring Membership Meeting at Chellow, which remains a “restful abode in these days of hurry, worry and painful uncertainty.”
If you are in Buckingham County or environs, don’t miss the opportunity to visit the magnificent Chellow and support Historic Buckingham!
slate river ramblings . . . . 
Chellow belonged to my nephews grandmother at one time.They sold it in early 2000’s. And then it was expanded.I am curious what price it was sold for.I guess I can go to courthouse or county records? We were lucky enough to have gotten to see the inside before the new owners moved in.The man who did a lot of the detailed work was there one day when I dropped by.It is absolutely beautiful.Whole downstairs was flipped around.Up stairs was same layout with so much added. The basement was the coolest.Huge transition!I did hear the owners are no longer living.The home went to their children.Again,I was looking for the price the himecsild for before the expansion.Thank you! I do miss visiting.I used to visit when Betty Hawkins owned it.Her aunt’s were moved to a nursing facility.I remember one Aunt’s name was nicknamed Moop.lol.Very sweet ladies.I met a young black girl who used to care for the house and her dad still lived there in a quarters behind the house.That was torn down.Thank you!
Becky,
As you suggested, I would start at the courthouse to find more information about the sale of Chellow in the early 2000s.
Good luck on your hunt and thanks for posting more about Chellow.
Joanne
What is the address? My family used to own Chellow before Dixon’s bought it.I had the address in my gps.My sister was married into the Betty Sieago Hawkins family.I actually live nearby.Betty and her husband Russell once lived behind my house when growing up in Texas.This is how her son Ricky Betty son and my sister met and married.They had their honeymoon here at Chellow.The Aunts of Betty 2 if them stayed here until they needed nursing care.Nickname Moop was last resident.But anyway,I visited Chellow 11 years after the Dixon’s renovated met the man who did the main work on the home as his brother was the archetect in design of renovations.My heart sunk when I heard the Dixon’s both passed away.I would love to find out if the home is open to tour.My sisters kids used to visit here as children and now have kids.They would love to see it.I loved the work that went into this home.At the same time I weeped the old home it is so opposite than it was before.It needed the work biggly and the reason why the Hawkins and family decided to sell to save what is.Thank you.Please let me know address and if public can tour or the Hawkins can.I probably can find my way back there.It’s about over 1 hour from Midlothian,Va.
Becky,
Many thanks for your comment. To the best of my knowledge, Chellow is not open to the public. Last year, however, Historic Buckingham held its spring membership meeting there. The address for the house is 2028 Chellow Road.
Joanne
Thank you for your response.I will go out for updated exterior pictures.I didn’t get to take pictures of the stables that they moved from the other property.I wanted pictures with leaves on the trees.
Reblogged this on Michele Beller and commented:
A visit to Chellow just went onto my TO DO List.
Historic Buckingham’s Spring Meeting at Chellow this coming Sunday – Hope it is well attended. There is a beautiful old stacked-stone cemetery – across the road from the house – it was not listed on the tour – hopefully it will be offered. You can see this cemetery on the Find A Grave website. As a direct, eighth-generation descendant of Col. John Bolling, through my grandfather, Ivanhoe Alfonso Bolling, who lived his entire life in Buckingham Co on Rt, 652. There is a family cemetery at this home too.
Patt, A tour of Chellow’s cemetery is planned for Sunday, weather permitting. Thanks for adding your comments to the blog post. Joanne
Joanne, as a direct, eighth-generation descendant of Col. John Bolling, through my great-grandmother Virginia Argyle Harrison Bolling Skidmore, who lived most of her life in Buckingham County, I am always delighted whenever the spotlight is turned upon this beloved old family home.
Thank you so much!
Colin Randolph Skidmore
Hello Colin, More to come about the Bollings and Chellow as we ramble through Buckingham County. Joanne
Joanne have worked on this line in Medieval England – not that hard to get doc.s!
Also have two pictures of the Thomas Bolling shield which Robt B. in Virginia copied and made a “family crest.” Would be happy to send picture of two originals – one of which is in the window of Bolling Hall. Pics taken about 5 yrs ago during a visit. Thoroughly documented.
Descend from a daughter of Elizabeth Blair Bolling and Major Thomas West as do many others.
LG
Thank you for this post! My great-grandmother Marion Hubard Henneman was raised at Chellowe. Her grandfather Robert T. Hubard bought the home from the Bolling family when he married Susan Pocahontas Bolling of Chellowe. (All three are among my ancestors buried in the Bolling – Hubard cemetery across the road from the house). After she was widowed in 1908, Marion moved home to Buckingham where she built Indian Gap on land that had been part of the Chellowe plantation, and she raised her two boys John and Richard there. John was my grandfather, and I am the current owner of Indian Gap. I am delighted to know of the meeting of Historic Buckingham at Chellowe on Sunday, and plan to attend!
Charlie, Many thanks for your comment. I have heard about Indian Gap, but have never visited. The members of Historic Buckingham will be at Chellowe on Sunday, 4/23/2017 rain or shine. Enjoy the meeting! Joanne
This is SO interesting…where is Indian Gap? I’ve always admired Chellowe from the road and would love to see the inside sometime. Appreciate your post and the interesting facts you shared that add to this discussion about your family connection. I’m just a couple miles down the road from Chellowe & have such a love for history and old family homes. Did Chellowe leave the family after her grandparents were gone?
Debra, Thanks for your comment. I’m planning a post about Indian Gap in the not-too-distant future. Please search Slate River Ramblings for older posts about Chellowe and the Bolling family. Joanne
Robert Bolling (1738 – 1775) resided at Chellow after leaving his father:s estate. Have not found any statement that father John Bolling resided there, which may be the case. See web site “Robert Bolling (1738-1775) Encyclopedia.” Robert was sent to Yorkshire County, UK for education and there met relatives, including William Bolling who resided at Chellow. The Bolling family lived there from late 1500s when they left Bolling Hall in Bradford. Chellow is a variant of an ancient name.
Louise, According to Garnett Williams, Col. Robert Bolling was followed by Lineaus Bolling and then the Hubbard family — a series of Robert Hubbards. Joanne
Louise, Feel free to contact me at jlyeck@gmail.com with any Bolling material you would like to share, particularly about those who lived in Buckingham. My ancestor’s sister, Amanda E. Harris, married Dr. Lineaus Bolling in 1851. Joanne
Reblogged this on Piedmont Virginia Connections and commented:
On Sunday, April 23rd, Historic Buckingham will hold its Spring Membership meeting at Chellow . . .
Steve, many thanks for “reblogging.” Let’s get some new members for Historic Buckingham! Joanne