Once the opulent showcase of the William Fairfax family, Belvoir Manor stood on the west bank of the Potomac River. The family imported ceramics from Europe and the Orient to grace its tables, and the mansion was described in a 1774 rental notice as spacious and well-appointed. The estate was operated with the labor of slaves.
In 1783, the mansion and several of its outbuildings were destroyed by fire. During the War of 1812, the property suffered further damage. In September 1814, British shells demolished what little was left of the old Belvoir Manor after a four-day exchange of cannon and musket fire with American forces.
Today, the site is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Belvoir Mansion Ruins and the Fairfax Grave. Although the ruins remain, access is restricted as they are located on a military post.
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
Written by Leroy
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