Barleywood

Barleywood is a historic farm property in Jefferson County, West Virginia, rather than a conventional commercial brand. Its history is connected to the Washington family's extensive landholdings in the region during the late eighteenth century. The property formed part of Harewood, an estate associated with Samuel Washington, the brother of George Washington. Harewood originally covered approximately 3,800 acres and was later divided among heirs into a number of smaller farms, including Barleywood, Cedar Lawn, Locust Hill, Megwillie, Richwood Hall, and Sulgrave. The land was initially cultivated for tobacco using enslaved labor, before agricultural activity in the area shifted toward grain production. Through inheritance and subsequent subdivision, the portion that became Barleywood passed through the Washington family and was eventually associated with William Temple Washington. The future Barleywood property was sold to William's daughter Millicent and her husband, Robert G. McPherson. The principal house was constructed around 1842, together with several associated agricultural and domestic buildings. The property therefore represents both the development of a nineteenth-century agricultural estate and the broader history of plantation landholding in the Shenandoah Valley region. The McPhersons sold Barleywood to Humphrey Keyes in 1853. Keyes also acquired the adjoining Megwillie estate. During the American Civil War, Barleywood and neighboring properties were affected by military activity and local skirmishes, particularly in August 1864. After Keyes's death in 1875 and his wife Jane's death in 1879, the farm passed to their daughters. Because the heirs did not reside there, the property was operated through tenants for much of the subsequent period. A tenant house and granary were added around 1900, while a pumphouse also dates from approximately that period. Barleywood remained an agricultural property and, unlike many nearby farms, was not converted into an orchard. The estate was gradually reduced through sales of parcels by the heirs in 1952 and 1956. The principal house ceased to be occupied after the 1960s and remained vacant for decades. During this period, vandalism and deterioration damaged portions of the porches, interior plaster, woodwork, and other architectural features. By 2006, substantial portions of the surrounding land had been developed for residential use, changing the property's agricultural setting. The surviving house is a two-story, three-bay brick building with Greek Revival characteristics. Its side-hall and double-parlor plan includes a depth-running entrance hall, two principal parlors, a service wing, a stone basement, and a finished attic room. Historic auxiliary structures include an 1842 cistern and smokehouse, the remains of an 1840s barn, a circa-1900 granary, a pumphouse, and a damaged frame tenant house. Barleywood was listed on the United States National Register of Historic Places on May 24, 2007. The manor was restored in 2019 and is now used as a private residence. Its current significance lies in its architectural survival, connection to Washington family landholding, agricultural history, Civil War-era context, and preservation as a historic property.

Barleywood developed from the subdivision of Harewood, a large Jefferson County estate connected to Samuel Washington, George Washington's brother. The Washington family acquired extensive property in what was then Virginia during the 1770s. Harewood eventually encompassed roughly 3,800 acres and was divided by heirs into several smaller estates. Barleywood was one of these successor properties. The area's early agricultural economy relied on tobacco cultivation and enslaved labor. As regional conditions and agricultural practices changed, the farms moved increasingly toward grain production. George Steptoe Washington inherited Harewood from his father in 1781, but died in 1809. His son, William Temple Washington, later received the portion of the estate that included the land associated with Barleywood. Through further transfers, the property came to William's daughter Millicent and her husband, Robert G. McPherson. The principal Barleywood house was built around 1842. It was accompanied by agricultural and service structures, including a smokehouse and cistern dating from the same period. The McPhersons sold the farm to Humphrey Keyes in 1853. Keyes purchased the adjoining Megwillie estate as well, linking Barleywood to a larger cluster of nineteenth-century farms derived from the former Harewood estate. Barleywood and nearby properties experienced Civil War-related disturbances and skirmishes, especially in August 1864. Following the deaths of Humphrey Keyes in 1875 and his wife Jane in 1879, the property passed to their daughters. The daughters did not live at Barleywood, so the farm was rented to tenants. A tenant house was constructed around 1900, and a granary and pumphouse were also added around that time. The farm continued to function agriculturally and was not converted to orchard use, unlike a number of nearby properties. Ownership within the Keyes family continued until parcels were sold by descendants in 1952 and 1956. Residential development later affected much of the former farmland; by 2006, significant areas had been developed. The principal house was no longer occupied after the 1960s and remained empty for decades. Vacancy led to vandalism and deterioration, including the loss or damage of porches, interior plaster, woodwork, and other elements. Architecturally, the house is a two-story, three-bay brick structure with Greek Revival detailing and a side-hall double-parlor arrangement. The entrance hall runs along the east side, while two parlors occupy the western portion. A service wing is attached to the east and contains a cellar kitchen and additional rooms. The property also retains a stone basement, attic room, cistern, smokehouse, barn remnants, granary, pumphouse, and tenant house, although some secondary structures have suffered substantial damage. Barleywood was added to the National Register of Historic Places on May 24, 2007. The designation recognized the property's architectural character and historical associations. Restoration of the manor was completed in 2019, after which it returned to use as a private residence. Barleywood is consequently best understood as a historic rural estate and architectural resource rather than as an operating brand or commercial enterprise.

• 2019

  Manor restoration completed

  [1]Barleywooden.wikipedia.org

  The long-vacant manor was restored and subsequently used as a private residence.

• 2007

  Listed on the National Register of Historic Places

  [1]Barleywooden.wikipedia.org

  Barleywood received national historic recognition on May 24, 2007.

• 1952

  Estate parcels begin to be sold by descendants

  [1]Barleywooden.wikipedia.org

  Heirs of the Keyes family sold portions of the farm, initiating a further reduction of the historic estate.

• 1900

  Tenant and agricultural buildings added

  [1]Barleywooden.wikipedia.org

  A tenant house, granary, and pumphouse were constructed around the turn of the twentieth century.

• 1864

  Civil War skirmishes affect the surrounding estates

  [1]Barleywooden.wikipedia.org

  Barleywood and neighboring farms were among the local properties exposed to military activity during the Civil War, particularly in August.

• 1853

  Property sold to Humphrey Keyes

  [1]Barleywooden.wikipedia.org

  Humphrey Keyes acquired Barleywood and the adjoining Megwillie estate for a reported historical sale price, bringing the property into the Keyes family's ownership.

• 1842

  Barleywood house and early outbuildings constructed

  [1]Barleywooden.wikipedia.org

  The principal two-story brick house was built with Greek Revival features, together with a smokehouse and cistern.

• 1781

  George Steptoe Washington inherits Harewood

  [1]Barleywooden.wikipedia.org

  George Steptoe Washington inherited the larger Harewood estate from his father, connecting the property to the Washington family's later subdivision of the land.

• 1770

  Washington family acquires extensive Jefferson County holdings

  [1]Barleywooden.wikipedia.org

  The Washington family established substantial landholdings in the region that later included the Harewood estate and its successor farms.

A preserved historic farmstead and residential heritage property, not a consumer or corporate brand.

1. 1Barleywooden.wikipedia.org