The Lunenburg County Historical Society is proud to announce that “Spring Bank,” owned by LCHS life member Randolph Hooks, will be the society’s 2015 Christmas Holiday Heritage House on Sunday, between 1-5 p.m.

Spring Bank is not only one of the oldest homes in Lunenburg County, but it is also one of the finest that has been built in any period of the county’s history. The carpenter and stone mason at Spring Bank were the same as those who built Prestwould Plantation in Mecklenburg County.

Spring Bank is listed on both the National Register of Historic Places and the Virginia Landmarks Register.

Spring Bank, on which construction was completed in 1793, is the original name given to the property by John Stark Ravenscroft (1772-1830) and his wife, Anne Spotswood Burwell. Ravenscroft’s mother was the sister of  Lady Jean Skipwith of Prestwould. Ravenscroft became the first Episcopal bishop of North Carolina.

His wife, Anne, was the daughter of Colonel Lewis Burwell, a wealthy landowner in Mecklenburg County and a member of Virginia’s Tidewater gentry.   

Spring Bank is a Late Georgian, high style dwelling and one of the few in Lunenburg County for which the actual craftsmen have been identified.

While many old homes have been modified and/or enlarged significantly during their history,  this house has changed very little architecturally since it was completed in 1793.

The workmanship of highly skilled craftsmen is still visible in every aspect of Spring Bank’s construction.

Hooks graciously opened the home to the historical society for an open house in 2003 before his repairs and renovations had begun.

Now visitors will have the opportunity to see the house after work has been done — a “before” and “after” viewing.

Admission of $10 a person will be collected at the door. Funds from this event will support projects of the Lunenburg County Historical Society.