Ravensworth
Ravensworth was an eighteenth-century Virginia plantation house and estate associated with the Fitzhugh and Lee families.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Ravensworth was a historic plantation house and estate in Fairfax County, Virginia, rather than a conventional commercial brand. Built in 1796 near present-day Annandale, the house formed part of the large Ravensworth land grant, one of three major mansions established on that tract; the other two were Ossian Hall and Oak Hill. It served as the Northern Virginia residence of several prominent members of the Fitzhugh, Custis, and Lee families and became connected to some of the most influential political and military figures in the region's early national and antebellum history. The estate was established by William Fitzhugh, a major landowner who participated in the Continental Congress and served in both chambers of the Virginia General Assembly. Fitzhugh also maintained a townhouse in Alexandria. He died in 1809 and was buried at Ravensworth. His son, William Henry Fitzhugh, subsequently inherited the property but died in 1830. William Henry's widow, Anna Maria Sarah Goldsborough Fitzhugh, managed the estate for decades and retained control until her death in 1874. Ravensworth's family connections extended into the Custis and Lee dynasties. Mary Lee Fitzhugh, William Fitzhugh's daughter, married George Washington Parke Custis, the grandson of Martha Washington, and became the mistress of Arlington House. Their grandson, Confederate general William Henry Fitzhugh Lee, commonly known as Rooney Lee, inherited Ravensworth in 1874 and lived there until his death in 1891. In 1897, George Washington Custis Lee moved to Ravensworth after leaving the presidency of Washington and Lee University; he remained there until his death in 1913. Anne Hill Carter Lee, the widow of Henry “Light Horse Harry” Lee and mother of Robert E. Lee, also stayed at a Fitzhugh family residence connected with Ravensworth and died at Ravensworth on July 26, 1829. The property was affected by the American Civil War because of its location and agricultural resources. Mary Anna Custis Lee briefly stayed at Ravensworth after leaving Arlington House in May 1861, although she later moved farther south because of concerns that her presence could expose the estate to military danger. Both Union and Confederate forces made use of the surrounding resources. Union troops foraged hay there in 1863, while partisan cavalry associated with John S. Mosby reportedly used a haystack at the estate as an overnight hiding place before discovering at daybreak that they were in view of a Union encampment. Orders from both sides helped protect the three Fitzhugh estates during the conflict. The Ravensworth house burned under unexplained circumstances on August 1, 1926. The estate continued to exist as a historic property for several decades, but its agricultural and residential landscape was eventually sold for development. In 1957, the widow of Dr. George Bolling Lee sold the remaining estate. That year, the remains of members of the Fitzhugh family, including William Fitzhugh and his wife, were removed from the family cemetery and reinterred at Pohick Church Cemetery in Lorton. The former grounds later became the Ravensworth Farm subdivision, while Ravensworth also became the name of a census-designated place in Fairfax County. The locality recorded a population of 2,466 in the 2010 census. The historic house itself is therefore defunct, while the Ravensworth name survives primarily in local geography and residential development.
History
Ravensworth was constructed in 1796 on the extensive Ravensworth land grant in what is now Fairfax County, Virginia. It was one of three principal mansions built on the grant, alongside Ossian Hall and Oak Hill. The estate became the Northern Virginia seat of William Fitzhugh, a prominent landowner and public figure who had served in the Continental Congress and in both houses of the Virginia legislature. Fitzhugh also owned a townhouse in Alexandria, but Ravensworth was an important center of his family estate. He died in 1809 and was buried on the property. After Fitzhugh's death, Ravensworth passed to his son, William Henry Fitzhugh. The younger Fitzhugh died in 1830, leaving his childless widow, Anna Maria Sarah Goldsborough Fitzhugh, to administer the estate. She remained responsible for Ravensworth until her death in 1874. Through marriage and inheritance, the property was closely tied to the Custis and Lee families. Fitzhugh's daughter Mary Lee Fitzhugh married George Washington Parke Custis, Martha Washington's grandson, and became associated with Arlington House. Their grandson, Confederate general William Henry Fitzhugh Lee, inherited Ravensworth in 1874 and lived there until his death in 1891. George Washington Custis Lee, another member of the extended family, moved to Ravensworth in 1897 after resigning as president of Washington and Lee University. He lived there until his death in 1913. The estate also briefly sheltered Mary Anna Custis Lee after she left Arlington House in May 1861 at the beginning of the Civil War. She later relocated farther south because she feared that remaining at Ravensworth could put the property at risk. Ravensworth's location made it relevant to military operations during the Civil War. Union forces drew on its agricultural resources, including hay, while Confederate partisan forces also used the grounds. In 1863, men connected with John S. Mosby's partisan command reportedly spent a night concealed in a haystack, only to discover at dawn that a Union encampment was plainly visible nearby. The Fitzhugh estates, including Ravensworth, were subject to protective orders issued by both Union and Confederate authorities, reflecting their historical and familial importance as well as the sensitivity of their location. The plantation house was destroyed by a fire of unexplained origin on August 1, 1926. The property remained associated with the Fitzhugh family into the mid-twentieth century. In 1957, the widow of Dr. George Bolling Lee sold the estate for development. The Fitzhugh family cemetery was also disturbed that year: the remains of William Fitzhugh, his wife, and other family members were moved to the cemetery at Pohick Church in Lorton. Following the sale, the former estate grounds were transformed into the Ravensworth Farm subdivision. Ravensworth also became the name of a nearby census-designated place in Fairfax County. The surviving historical identity of Ravensworth is therefore preserved through place names, family history, and local heritage rather than through an extant plantation house or an operating organization.
- 1957
Estate sold for development
[1]The remaining estate is sold for development, and Fitzhugh family cemetery remains are transferred to Pohick Church Cemetery in Lorton.
- 1926
The house is destroyed by fire
[1]The Ravensworth house burns on August 1 under circumstances described as mysterious.
- 1897
George Washington Custis Lee moves to Ravensworth
[1]George Washington Custis Lee takes up residence at Ravensworth after leaving the presidency of Washington and Lee University.
- 1874
Ravensworth passes to William Henry Fitzhugh Lee
[1]After Anna Maria Sarah Goldsborough Fitzhugh's death, the estate is inherited by her grandnephew, Confederate general William Henry Fitzhugh Lee.
- 1829
Anne Hill Carter Lee dies at Ravensworth
[1]Anne Hill Carter Lee, widow of Henry Lee and mother of Robert E. Lee, dies at Ravensworth on July 26.
- 1809
Death of William Fitzhugh
[1]William Fitzhugh, the estate's principal early owner and a prominent Virginia public figure, dies and is buried at Ravensworth.
- 1796
Ravensworth house is built
[1]A plantation house is constructed near present-day Annandale on the Ravensworth land grant in Fairfax County, Virginia.
Products and positioning
Historic Virginia plantation estate and family residence; not an active commercial brand.
Sources1 sources
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