HAMPTON
Notes on Hampton Mansion
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PART VII
ILLUSTRATIONS (continued)
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ILLUSTRATION NO. 5. Birch Engraved View
This rather poorly drawn view of
the Mansion, presumably taken from the northeast, is the oldest known
picture of Hampton. It is by the well-known Philadelphia "enamel
painter" William Russell Birch. It was one of a series of American
country seats engraved on copper.
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ILLUSTRATION NO. 6. Mansion, North Porch, 1867 or later
Baltimore architect E. G. Lind is said to have designed the marble steps and
balustrades with urns in 1867. Note elaborate window trim and the slat
shutters which, on the north elevation, appear only at the porch. The
"Chinese Chippendale" railing at the second floor level is occasionally
found in American houses of the period.
Photographer Unknown
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ILLUSTRATION NO. 7. Mansion, First Floor,
Central Hallway before Rehabilitation.
The entrance hall as furnished by the Ridgelys and just
before they left the Mansion. Note gas chandelier; "frescoed" ceiling and stained
glass windows.
Photo by Abbie Rowe, 1948
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ILLUSTRATION NO. 8. Mansion, First Floor, the Central Hallway
after Rehabilitation
The archway on the left leads to the main
stairway; it was probably filled in to prevent drafts. The fanlight over
the (South) door still contains a Victorian Ridgely coat of arms in
colored glass - which was allowed to remain.
HABS photo by Miyamoto, September, 1959
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ILLUSTRATION NO. 9.
This portrait of Eliza Ridgely ("Lady with a Harp") by
Thomas Sully is a replica. The original went to the new National Gallery
about 1946. Negotiations for the original painting by Director David
Finley eventually led to the acquisition of the Hampton estate for a
National Historic Site - and, incidentally, the founding of the National
Trust for Historic Preservation.
HABS photo by Miyamoto, September 1959
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ILLUSTRATION NO. 10. Mansion, the Sitting Room.
Left to right: Built-in
cupboard (original), gaslight chandelier (mid-19th century), small door
(later addition - 1813?), chimney breast and cornice (original),
Victorian coal grate. Carpet (rolled) to the left was tailor-made to fit
room wall-to-wall. This writer believed it to be "turkey work" c
1834.
Photo: Sussman-Ochs 1949
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ILLUSTRATION NO. 11. Mansion, the Drawing Room.
Nineteenth century furniture, carpet and gas chandelier were in this principal
room at the time of acquisition by the National Park
Service.
Abbie Rowe photo, 1948
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hamp/notes/part7b.htm
Last Updated: 07-Jul-2008
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