SURRY GUIDED TOUR FIELD GUIDE
Bacon’s Castle: Inside North America’s Oldest Brick Dwelling
A focused, 45-minute guided visit to Bacon’s Castle in Surry that explores a 1665 High Jacobean brick house, its reconstructed 17th‑century garden and surviving outbuildings.
Bacon’s Castle: Inside North America’s Oldest Brick Dwelling.
Perched in Surry, Virginia, Bacon’s Castle is North America’s oldest brick dwelling, built in 1665 for Arthur Allen. The site is a rare surviving example of High Jacobean architecture and includes a reconstructed 17th‑century English formal garden and several historic outbuildings that together trace four centuries of Virginia history—including the lives of enslaved and free Africans and African Americans. Preservation Virginia acquired the property in the 1970s and carried out meticulous research, restoration and furnishing in the 1980s.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
A 17th‑Century Time Capsule
Originally known as Allen’s Brick House, the 1665 dwelling later earned the name Bacon’s Castle after several of Nathaniel Bacon’s men occupied it for four months during Bacon’s Rebellion in 1676. The site preserves layers of Virginia history across four centuries.
Rare High Jacobean Brickwork
Bacon’s Castle is celebrated as a rare example of High Jacobean architecture and is identified as the oldest brick dwelling in North America.
Gardens and Surviving Outbuildings
The property features a reconstructed 17th‑century English formal garden restored by the Garden Club of Virginia and surviving outbuildings, including an 1830 slave dwelling, an 1820s smokehouse and a barn that dates to about 1700.
What the day feels like
What the guided visit feels like
The guided experience is a compact, interpretive visit that places the house and grounds in historical context—highlighting 17th‑century architecture, the reconstructed formal garden and the array of outbuildings that illustrate domestic and labor histories across four centuries; the onsite program is presented within a roughly 45‑minute duration.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who this visit suits
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
The guided visit is listed as approximately 45 minutes. The meeting location is 465 Bacon’s Castle Trail, Surry, VA 23883.
No special gear requirements are specified in the provided information.
Preservation Virginia acquired Bacon’s Castle in the 1970s and researched, restored and furnished the house in the 1980s.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
How long is the guided visit?
The visit is approximately 45 minutes in duration.
Where do I meet for the tour?
The meeting location is 465 Bacon’s Castle Trail, Surry, VA 23883.
When was Bacon’s Castle built and who built it?
The brick house was built in 1665 for Arthur Allen and was originally known as Allen’s Brick House.
Why is the property called Bacon’s Castle?
In 1676, several of Nathaniel Bacon’s men occupied the home for four months during what became known as Bacon’s Rebellion, which led to the site’s later name.
What architectural style is Bacon’s Castle?
The house is a rare example of High Jacobean architecture and is identified as the oldest brick dwelling in North America.
What other historic features are on the property?
The site includes a reconstructed 17th‑century English formal garden restored by the Garden Club of Virginia and several outbuildings, including an 1830 slave dwelling, an 1820s smokehouse and a barn dating to about 1700.