Claymont Court

Claymont Court, also known simply as Claymont, is a large Georgian-style brick mansion near Charles Town in Jefferson County, West Virginia. It is the grandest of several surviving residences associated with the Washington family in the region and is now operated as a nonprofit retreat center by the Claymont Society for Continuous Education. Although it is not a conventional consumer brand, the Claymont name functions as the identity of a historic estate, preservation project, educational community, and retreat venue. The property originated on land associated with John Augustine Washington, George Washington's brother. Bushrod Corbin Washington inherited the tract in 1811 and commissioned a substantial mansion. The first house was completed around 1820 after enslaved laborers constructed a thirty-four-room residence at a reported cost of $30,000. The building was considered unusually ambitious for the area and acquired the informal nickname “Bushrod's folly.” A fire destroyed the principal house in 1838, and the central section was rebuilt in 1840. The resulting complex developed into a roughly 16,000-square-foot residence with numerous rooms, wings, courtyards, and fireplaces. Claymont's early history is inseparable from slavery, plantation agriculture, the Washington family, and the Civil War. Before emancipation, the estate relied on the labor of nearly one hundred enslaved people alongside free workers. During the Civil War, members of the Washington family served with Confederate forces, and Union troops captured two of the younger Washington men at Claymont during a Christmas furlough. The estate was also penalized during the conflict, including the removal of livestock and destruction of fencing. After the war, tax liabilities, agricultural decline, and the transition away from enslaved labor weakened the family's finances. The Washingtons sold Claymont in 1871. The estate subsequently passed through several owners. Architect William A. Bates enlarged the ballroom and dining wings in the late nineteenth century. Writer Frank R. Stockton owned the property from 1889 to 1906 and wrote several books while living there, including work associated with his best-known story, “The Lady, or the Tiger?” Colonel S. J. Murphy later improved the gardens, adding a large pergola and fountain. West Virginia industrialist Robert Joseph Funkhouser acquired Claymont in 1943, along with the neighboring Blakeley and Cedar Lawn properties, and consolidated them into a 7,000-acre estate. A major institutional transition began in the 1970s. John G. Bennett, an English philosopher and scientist associated with Fourth Way and Systematics teachings, helped establish an intentional community at Claymont. The Claymont Society purchased the mansion and surrounding acreage in 1975, with deed restrictions intended to protect the property from development. After Bennett's death in 1974, the original nine-month educational program continued for several years before being discontinued. Claymont is now used for retreats, conferences, residential learning, meditation, healthcare and environmental programs, spiritual gatherings, dance activities, and related nonprofit events. The organization emphasizes lifelong learning, self-reflection, sustainability, organic farming, local purchasing, and ecological stewardship. Guest accommodations and utilities have been modernized, while a nearby cattle barn has been converted into a conference facility. The estate remains under restoration, supported by grants, preservation organizations, public bodies, and individual donors. Claymont was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.

Claymont Court stands on land connected to John Augustine Washington, the brother of George Washington. Bushrod Corbin Washington inherited the property in 1811 and developed it into a major plantation estate. A thirty-four-room mansion was completed around 1820 with enslaved labor, reportedly costing $30,000. The building burned in 1838 while Washington was away serving in Virginia's legislature. Its central section was rebuilt in 1840, and the house later grew into a 16,000-square-foot complex with extensive wings and service areas. The estate remained with the Washington family until financial pressures following the Civil War forced its sale in 1871. The family's Confederate associations, wartime damage, postwar tax obligations, agricultural decline, and the end of enslaved labor all contributed to the loss. Claymont then passed through a succession of private owners. Charles Dawson commissioned architect William A. Bates to enlarge the ballroom and dining wings. Author Frank R. Stockton lived at Claymont from 1889 to 1906. Colonel S. J. Murphy later restored elements of the gardens, including a long pergola and fountain. Industrialist Robert Joseph Funkhouser bought Claymont in 1943 together with Blakeley and Cedar Lawn, creating a contiguous estate of approximately 7,000 acres. After further ownership changes, the Claymont Society acquired the mansion and 418 acres in 1975. The purchase was associated with John G. Bennett's plan for an intentional community centered on Fourth Way education, Systematics, self-observation, spirituality, and sustainable living. Following Bennett's death in 1974, the original residential course continued for several years but eventually ended. Claymont was subsequently adapted into a flexible nonprofit retreat and conference center serving spiritual, healthcare, environmental, meditation, professional, and educational groups. The property has received preservation support from organizations and public bodies, and restoration work has included rebuilding the second-floor veranda, strengthening the ballroom, and improving windows and drainage. Organic agriculture, local purchasing, volunteer farming, and conservation remain part of the site's contemporary identity. Claymont was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.

• 1975

  Claymont Society begins stewardship

  [1]Claymont Courten.wikipedia.org

  The Claymont Society acquired Claymont and began operating it as an educational and intentional-community property.

• 1973

  National Register listing

  [1]Claymont Courten.wikipedia.org

  Claymont Court was added to the United States National Register of Historic Places.

• 1943

  Robert Joseph Funkhouser consolidates the surrounding estates

  [1]Claymont Courten.wikipedia.org

  Funkhouser bought Claymont, Blakeley, and Cedar Lawn and combined them into an estate of about 7,000 acres.

• 1889

  Frank R. Stockton acquires Claymont

  [1]Claymont Courten.wikipedia.org

  The popular American author purchased the property and lived there until 1906.

• 1871

  Washington family sells the estate

  [1]Claymont Courten.wikipedia.org

  Financial difficulties after the Civil War led the Washington family to sell Claymont.

• 1840

  Central house rebuilt

  [1]Claymont Courten.wikipedia.org

  The central portion of Claymont was reconstructed and the rest of the complex restored.

• 1838

  Original mansion destroyed by fire

  [1]Claymont Courten.wikipedia.org

  The main house burned, reportedly after a fire began in the basement kitchen fireplace.

• 1820

  First major mansion completed

  [1]Claymont Courten.wikipedia.org

  A large thirty-four-room mansion was completed for Bushrod Corbin Washington using enslaved labor.

• 1811

  Bushrod Corbin Washington inherits the property

  [1]Claymont Courten.wikipedia.org

  Bushrod Corbin Washington reached legal adulthood and inherited the land on which Claymont would be built.

A preserved Washington-family estate positioned as a nonprofit center for retreats, lifelong learning, personal development, sustainability, and historic preservation.

• Historic property and retreat venue · 1820

  Claymont Court mansion

  The principal Georgian-style brick mansion is the estate's defining offering. Its large interior, historic rooms, residential accommodations, and restored structural elements allow it to function as a setting for retreats, educational programs, conferences, and cultural or spiritual gatherings.

• Lifelong learning · 1975

  Claymont Society educational programs

  The nonprofit's programs draw on the site's history of Fourth Way education, Systematics, self-reflection, personal development, spirituality, and sustainable living. The original nine-month course associated with John G. Bennett is no longer offered in its former format, but the wider educational and retreat mission continues.

• Hospitality and events

  Claymont conference and retreat facilities

  Claymont hosts a variety of nonprofit and professional groups, including meditation, healthcare, environmental, spiritual, and performing-arts organizations. A nearby former cattle barn has been adapted as a conference center, complementing the mansion's residential and meeting spaces.

• 1975

  Conversion to a nonprofit educational and retreat centerStrategy

  Background

  The property faced the challenge of preserving a very large historic estate while giving it a viable contemporary purpose.

  Action taken

  The Claymont Society acquired the mansion and surrounding acreage, establishing an intentional community and later developing the site as a retreat and lifelong-learning center.

  Aftermath

  Claymont remains in nonprofit stewardship, combining historic preservation, retreats, education, agriculture, and sustainability activities.

  Source

• Ongoing preservation and sustainability programStrategy

  Background

  The mansion and grounds require continuing maintenance, restoration, and adaptation for modern use.

  Action taken

  The operating nonprofit has pursued grants and donations, upgraded utilities and guest facilities, restored structural and exterior elements, and maintained organic-farming and local-purchasing practices.

  Aftermath

  The mansion remains operational while restoration continues; some historic gardens have not returned to active use after storm damage.

  Source

1. 1Claymont Courten.wikipedia.org
2. 2Claymont official websiteclaymont.org