Karin Andrews that Alexander F Dillard, Jr., a direct descendant of Ritchie, commissioned for the newly renovated building. In pre-Revolutionary days, Richard Henry Lee with 400 men confronted Ritchie here and demanded that he not use the hated stamps levied on the planters by the British. The house was the home of Thomas Ritchie, founder of the Richmond Enquirer who, with cousins Spencer Roane, first Chief Justice of the Virginia Supreme Court and Dr. John Brockenbrough, founder of the Bank of Virginia and builder of the White House of the Confederacy was a member of the powerful “Essex Junto.” Paneling from the original structure was removed to Winterthur Museum in Delaware. In 1975, A. Fleet Dillard and his son purchased the


structure and began its restoration. The five front dormers were built after Meriwether’s original plans. The rear dormers are original. A chimney was added after the eastern one-third of the building was constructed. The building serves as law offices for Dillard and Katona. Open for the first time by owner Alexander F. Dillard, Jr.


ROANE-WRIGHT-TRIBLE HOUSE, 203 Duke Street


Two blocks off Route 17 on Duke Street, the Roane-Wright-Trible House is characterized by its Greek Revival style white stucco over brick with a full English basement. It was built in 1851 by Dr. Lawrence Roane. The ceilings on the first floor are 12 feet high and the ceilings on the second floor are 10 feet high. The house has original heart floor pine flooring and all the interior


Photo by David Broad


Roane-Wright-Trible


and exterior doors have original hardware. All the windows are original and have double-hung six-over-six sashes except the basement windows which have three-over-three sashes. Additions such as bathrooms and closets have been added. Its four chimneys support a fireplace in each of its 12


rooms. A two-story structure in the rear was built as servants’ quarters. The original front and back porches have fluted columns. The front door, with sidelights and a handsome upper transom opens onto a wide center hallway. Mature boxwood and hardwoods surround the stately structure. Subsequent owners include Dr. Felix and Mary Wilson in the 1940s and 50s, William Austin and Elizabeth Warner Trible 1966-2001 and Kelly and John Owen Gwathmey, who after renovation, opened it as The Essex Inn. Open for the first time by owners Eugene and Mary Jane Cook.


The House & Home Magazine


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