About

The oldest section of Jerdone Castle was built ca. 1745 by Francis Jerdone, who emigrated to Louisa County from Scotland in 1740. In addition to expanding his original landholdings and building a residence, Jerdone operated stores, mills, and a forge. The later main section of the house was built in 1858 for Francis Jerdone's descendant, Sarah Jerdone Coleman and her husband Gen. Clayton Coleman. The structure's generous size is emphasized by an Italianate bracketed cornice and cupola. In 1879 the estate was purchased by Frank T. Glasgow of Richmond, father of the author Ellen Glasgow. Ellen Glasgow spent her childhood summers at Jerdone Castle, which she later said greatly influenced her writing. In the fourth chapter of The Woman Within, entitled "I Become a Writer," Miss Glasgow describes lying in the meadow at Jerdone Castle and coming to the realization that writing was to be her future. After decades of neglect, Jerdone Castle was restored at the end of the 20th century.