Caryswood Plantation
Courtesy Virginia Department of Historic Resources
In 1953, the Trent family celebrated the centennial of this handsome dwelling house at Caryswood. In 1991, it was added to the Virginia Landmarks Register. In 2007, it was nominated to the National Register of Historic Places and the farm was described as follows:
In 1853 … Edward Trent Page inherited 836 acres including the plantation house, and renamed it Caryswood. He married Elizabeth Coupland Nicholas (1834-1897) of Seven Islands plantation. In 1904 Caryswood was divided among four children: Edward Trent Page, Jr., Mary Haynes, John Page, and Bessie Trent. The house and surrounding 168 acres going to Bessie and her husband John Gannaway Trent (1868-1934). In 1934 the farm was inherited by their daughters: Kate Gannaway Trent, and Elizabeth Coupland Page Trent who married Branch Bird of Idaho. By 1991 the acreage was mostly restored and stood at more than 700 acres. The owner at that time was Mrs. Branch Bird, Elizabeth Coupland Page Trent, a descendant of the original Cary family. Many of the furnishings at Caryswood are from homes with Page or Cary associations such as: Rosewell, Berkeley, Seven Islands, and Union Hill.
For more about Seven Islands click here.
Coming next: The Caryswood Centennial
slate river ramblings . . . . 
Hello my name is Valarie Gibson I always wanted to go to caryswood it’s right across the woods from my family home. I would like to do a tour with my family one summer.
Valarie, Thanks for your comment. Perhaps someone who has access to the property will see it and can help. It has either sold or been taken off the market. Good luck — Joanne
My name is larry and i Used to play there as a child in the early 1950’s.I knew Page and Kate Trent.my mother Frances Johnston painted a portrait for them that I think still hangs on the wall.my grand mother Kay Keenan was friends with them and lived at the Tavern on gravel hill next to Dudley West where the woman’s institute is.last I saw page or Kate was about the late 1970’s
Larry, Thanks for adding your memories to the blog. Joanne
I know the owner. Send me your email address, andi will let her know you are looking for info. It’s currently for sale, Caryswood. We work the land for hay and use it for cattle. It is beautiful historic site!
Joanne, do you know how I can contact them? They should know about my Word/Cary family and perhaps help me with my research.
Nancy, I have no contacts at Carywood. Perhaps, another Slate River Ramblings reader will comment. Good luck in your research! Joanne
John Cary Page (1784-1853), who married Mary Anna Trent Page, was the father of Edward Trent Page and the owner of the property “Halfway Branch: which became Caryswood.
Wondered if you know who Edward Trent Page inherited Caryswood from?