Virginia landmark: Historic Battersea open house, tour gem, enjoy refreshments

Kristi K. Higgins, The Progress-Index
·2 min read
Historic Battersea in Petersburg, Va.
Historic Battersea in Petersburg, Va.

PETERSBURG — You're invited to the historic Battersea open house. The hidden treasure nestled on Upper Appomattox Lane for over 250 years is a beauty.

Since the purchase of Battersea in 2011, the Battersea Foundation has rescued the architectural gem which was in extreme danger of collapsing. If you haven't visited in a while, you will be amazed at the restoration progress.

Battersea’s characteristic Palladian style architecture was constructed by Petersburg’s first mayor Colonel John Banister who was a member of the House of Burgesses and Continental Congress, a signer of the Articles of Confederation and a contributor to the Revolutionary War effort.

A portrait of John Banister, the first mayor of Petersburg, on display at historic Battersea villa. The floral designs were on exhibit during the 2022 Historic Garden Week tour hosted by the Petersburg Garden Club.
A portrait of John Banister, the first mayor of Petersburg, on display at historic Battersea villa. The floral designs were on exhibit during the 2022 Historic Garden Week tour hosted by the Petersburg Garden Club.

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The Foundation's mission is to preserve historic Battersea and offer educational, artistic and cultural experiences that inform, enrich and inspire the public. For information about the restoration efforts taken to preserve this magnificent attraction, visit batterseafound.org.

Battersea was listed on the Virginia Landmarks Register on May 13, 1969 and the National Register of Historic Places on November 12, 1969.

Stop by the villa on Saturday, April 1 from 5 - 8 p.m. Refreshments will be served. Enjoy touring the 18th century estate built in 1768. Battersea is located at 1289 Upper Appomattox St. in Petersburg.

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— Kristi K. Higgins aka The Social Butterfly columnist is the trending topics and food Q&A reporter at The Progress-Index. Have a news tip on local trends or businesses? Contact Kristi (she, her) at khiggins@progress-index.com, follow @KHiggins_PI on Twitter @socialbutterflykristi on Instagram.

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This article originally appeared on The Progress-Index: Petersburg: Historic Battersea open house, view restoration progress