Bacon's Castle - Preservation Virginia (2024)

Bacon’s Castle is the oldest brick dwelling in North America and was built for Arthur Allen and his family in 1665. Originally known as Allen’s Brick House, it earned the moniker “Bacon’s Castle” in 1676 when several of Nathaniel Bacon’s men occupied the home for four months during the uprising that became known as Bacon’s Rebellion.

Bacon’s Castle is a rare example of High Jacobean architecture. The home features a reconstructed 17th-century English formal garden restored by the Garden Club of Virginia. Several outbuildings also survive, including an 1830 slave dwelling.

Preservation Virginia acquired Bacon’s Castle in the 1970’s at auction and meticulously researched, restored and furnished the house in the 1980’s.

Are you a descendant of anyone who may have lived or worked at Bacon’s Castle, or are you wondering if you might be? Take a look at this research packet where we share the research and information that the staff at Preservation Virginia and Bacon’s Castle has gathered about those individuals who have lived and worked at Bacon’s Castle:

Bacon’s Castle Descendant Research Guide

African American History at Bacon’s Castle

The Black history connected to Bacon’s Castle “is incredibly rich. It is filled with stories of the families that were built under enslavement, the experiences of those who risked their lives to fight against the institution of slavery, and the people who created new lives and tight family units, which grew during the Reconstruction era and into the twentieth and twenty-first centuries.” African American historian and genealogist, Peighton Young,

To read more about Bacon’s Castle’s African American history, Click Here. And for more in-depth information, and primary source material please email us at baconscastle@preservationvirginia.org

We have only begun to study the history of the Black presence here. We aim “to build strong relationships with the descendants of Bacon’s Castle, collect oral histories, and present the individual stories that truly highlight the African American experience at Bacon’s Castle from 1665 to 1972. Moving forward, we hope to continue to be able to provide a detailed context for how these people lived and how they viewed their lives at Bacon’s Castle.”

We value Bacon’s Castle’s African American community’s history and would love for you to be a part of the process of gathering more information about the Black presence at Bacon’s Castle. If you are a descendant of Bacon’s Castle or a member of the community and would like to share your family’s history or your knowledge of the African American history at Bacon’s Castle, please contact us at baconscastle@preservationvirginia.org or 757.357.5976

Address

465 Bacon’s Castle Trail
Surry, VA 23883

Hours

Interior tours are available March-December each year.

Fridays and Saturdays 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sundays 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Mondays 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Memorial Day through Labor Day)

For Tickets, click here:Bacon’s Castle Tickets

PLAN YOUR VISIT

Ways to visit:

Self-Guided Cell Phone Tour- Receive an informative site map and explore the grounds following a numbered path. Use your personal cell phone to hear about the site’s history and architecture.

Guided Interior Tours, tickets available online or on-site. Click here to reserve your spot: Bacon’s Castle Tickets

Pack a lunch and eat at one of our six picnic tables.

Children 15 years old or younger must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

Jamestown-Scotland Ferry

You can hop on the Jamestown-Scotland Ferry for free to visit Preservation Virginia’s Historic Jamestowne or take a short car ride to Smith’s Fort Plantation.

Pricing

Contact

For information on pricing and availability:

Inquire about Bacon’s Castle

Carol Wiedel, Site Coordinator
baconscastle@preservationvirginia.org
757-357-5976

Donate

Bacon’s Castle Events

Bacon’s Castle Stories

Tours & Site Rental

Bacon’s Castle is a rare and beautifully restored 17th century gem, located in scenic Surry County, Virginia and a short ferry ride from the Historic Triangle.

Site Rental & Special Events

Meeting Space: Rent Bacon’s Castle for your small group meetings and events. Pricing starts at $100 per hour.

Special Events: Rent our grounds for your special occasion. Pricing starts at $50 per hour.

Paranormal Evening Special Event Rental: The staff of Preservation Virginia’s Bacon’s Castle provides a very rare opportunity to investigate an ancient, historic location that has been a part of the American landscape since our country’s infancy.

Bacon’s Castle (c. 1665) has over 355 years of history and funds raised from events like these help to further the necessary, integral preservation efforts required to maintain this historic gem for generations to come. For more information and to book your group, email baconscastle@preservationvirginia.org

Group Tour Bookings

Surry County is a small town packed with historical significance. Plan a day trip to explore Bacon’s Castle and Smith’s Fort.

Group tours are available by arrangements made no less than one week in advance of the visit.

Contact

For information on pricing and availability:

Inquire about Bacon’s Castle

Carol Wiedel, Site Coordinator
baconscastle@preservationvirginia.org
757-357-5976