What do you expect to find in the centre of a golf course? Possibly not an abandoned house. The crumbling Dunnington Mansion in Virginia is somewhat incongruous with the pristine country club that surrounds it.
Once home to high society, the property has a storied history, stretching all the way back to the late 1700s. But now its future is hanging in the balance, as the mansion and the land that surrounds it is up for grabs – for a staggering $12.5 million (£10m).
Click or scroll on as we take a tour of this mysterious home and uncover its fascinating origins...
Guarded by security 24/7, the imposing red-brick manor sits on a plot of unkempt land within the swish Manor Resort Golf Club, which is located to the south of Farmville.
An ornate wrought-iron gate, thick with rust, is supported by two crumbling posts that mark the divide between the golf course and the enigmatic mansion.
Given its derelict structure and wild, overgrown garden, the house's location is something of a surprise. The property stands in complete contrast to the golf course that envelopes it, which is exquisitely landscaped with manicured fairways, neat wooded areas and a pristine lake.
In fact, the value of this vast acreage could well be the reason why the house, and the 766 acres of land surrounding it, were put on the market in April 2023.
The property is listed with the Laura Peery Team of Sotheby's International Realty, for the hefty sum of $12.5 million (£10m). It's worth noting that the lot for sale doesn't include the Manor Golf Club itself, but rather the partially developed land holdings around the club, owned by Manor Development.
Pictured here on a photo from the listing, you can just about make out Dunnington Mansion, also known as Poplar Hill, on the top right, looking slightly out of place alongside the pristine resort houses on the left.
It's clear from the listing that the main draw here is the land – 28 residential lots have been cleared and connected to road infrastructure, sewage and water. It's the ideal purchase for a developer.
Which begs the question, what will become of Dunnington Mansion when the acreage sells? Let's take a tour of its crumbling halls...
When acclaimed urbex photographer Bryan Sansivero was granted access to capture the property in all its faded grandeur in 2020, it was already in a poor state of repair.
A discarded pressurised barrel, piles of rotting wood planks and other debris litter the area in front of the house. Much of the surrounding land has been reclaimed by vines and any semblance of a path leading to the front porch has long lost the fight with Mother Nature.
Nevertheless, the mansion's exterior looks in decent shape with its turret and architectural brickwork more or less intact.
The exterior is shown in all its former glory in this image captured sometime during the early 20th century.
The property's history begins in 1748, when land-owner Richard Woodson, also referred to as Baron Woodson because of his vast estate, bought up a swathe of land in Prince Edward County and established the Poplar Hill Plantation, building a modest four-room house on the holding.
The plantation passed to his daughter Agnes and her husband Francis Watkins, who constructed a fine brick house there in the late 18th century. Other early structures on the plantation purportedly included quarters for enslaved African Americans, which have since been demolished.
Following the death of the couple in the 1820s, the property passed to their daughter Frances and her husband James Wood.
According to the Farmville Herald, the duo expanded the mansion and it became known as the Wood Plantation house.
The property remained in the Wood family until 1860 when it was acquired by Captain John Knight, who handed it down to his daughter India and her husband, business tycoon Walter Grey Dunnington (pictured).
In 1897, Dunnington embarked on a dramatic renovation and pretty much rebuilt the entire house, expanding the square footage to include a total of 14 rooms.
As well as revamping the existing Wood Plantation house, by this point referred to as the Dunnington Mansion, the business leader moved the original Woodson property to another part of the estate.
Dunnington spared absolutely no expense on the old house's renovation, as you can see from these images of the lavish entrance foyer, which features a vast brick fireplace, a vaulted ceiling and handsome wood panelling that would have cost an eye-watering sum of money.
All in all, the space looks to be in reasonable shape, bar the peeling wallpaper and dusty floor.
Dunnington opted for a fashionable Romanesque Revival aesthetic for the exterior and splashed a fortune on the interiors, which were kitted out with every mod con.
The most sumptuous in the area, the house fast became a magnet for Farmville's high society. This image shows the parlour where the Dunningtons would receive their many affluent guests.
Some of the mansion's most alluring period features are the turret alcoves, which feature expansive bay windows that could have been used as a sitting area to take tea in the afternoon, or perhaps as a quiet nook to read in peace.
The house also features an adjunct parlour, which is pictured here. Situated towards the back of the house, the room is likely to have been less formal than the principal parlour.
The highlight of the once-grand space has got to be the floor-to-ceiling French doors that bathe the room in daylight.
Like the entrance foyer, the study impresses with an enormous red-brick fireplace, impeccable wood panelling and a glorious vaulted ceiling, while a regal formal dining room is also situated on the ground floor.
Mr Dunnington certainly had the money to go all out, with his manufacturing business gaining traction in countries as far away as Italy.
Still, it wasn't all plain sailing for the industrial baron. The old Dunnington factory building in Farmville was destroyed by fire in 1898, which must have been a major setback for the eponymous owner, who had just splurged a fortune upgrading his home.
After a long and illustrious career, Walter G Dunnington died in 1922, while India Dunnington lived until 1960, passing away at the impressive age of 103.
Mrs Dunnington was said to have been exceptionally kind and often baked cookies for the plantation workers' children. She also allowed them to play hide-and-seek in the mansion, according to Michelle Bowers of Old House Life, who has been contacted by people who were acquainted with the genteel Southern lady.
With its maze of corridors, the manor must've been an enchanting place to grow up around!
Unfortunately, years of neglect have taken a toll on this bedroom. The intricate fireplace surround and mirror are intact but the plasterwork is coming away from the walls and the ceiling has partially collapsed.
Nevertheless, the hearth, with its remarkably well-preserved metro tiles, shines through the debris and decay.
In its heyday, the home must've been a lively place, bustling with the young Dunnington children.
Second son Walter Grey Dunnington Jr rose to become a millionaire attorney in New York. The law firm he founded in 1921 thrives to this day.
Daughter Lucie went on to marry a local lawyer and politician at the house, while the couple's youngest son, John H, qualified as a physician and became one of the country's top eye doctors, serving as president of the American Ophthalmological Society.
While repairs are needed to the ceiling and paintwork, this charming bedroom looks like it wouldn't require a huge effort to put right. Like the parlour downstairs, the space delights with the most fabulous alcove located in one of the turrets, lined with large bay windows.
Following the death of India Dunnington in 1960, it's uncertain whether her children inherited and held on to the house.
What is known is that the property was maintained until its sale in 1999 to the Community Development Authority, which had grand plans for a golf course, hotel and spa.
A painstaking restoration was planned for the Dunnington Mansion, which was to be converted into a splendid clubhouse.
Hope was on the horizon for the mansion's derelict rooms, including this crumbling attic that's now open to the elements.
Alas, the Farmville Herald reported that funding for the ambitious project dried up, but the money to construct the golf course was eventually found and work began on it in 2004. Disappointingly, the estate's original Woodman house was bulldozed to make way for the course.
Characteristic of many period houses in this part of the US, the mansion features a beautiful, spacious porch that oozes Southern charm.
If restored, it would make the perfect spot to kick back in a rocking chair on a balmy summer evening and soak up the rural views.
The manor's conservatory was said to be a favourite hangout of India Dunnington.
A keen gardener, the green-fingered matriarch purportedly cultivated a multitude of plants in the space, which was fitted with potting shelves and a roof that could be opened to let direct sunlight stream in.
Outside, the grandeur of the conservatory's elegant domed glass structure is apparent, adding immeasurably to the architectural value of the Dunnington Mansion. When it comes to restoration, we'd make a beeline to save this magnificent feature first.
It would be a crying shame if the manor's ornate architectural features were lost. This close-up of the turret shows the painstaking detail put into its design.
The roof is a work of art in its own right, featuring an unusual combination of alternating fish scales and rectangular tiles.
Having lacked heating for years, even of the most rudimentary kind, mould, both inside and out, is clearly a problem, as it would be in any neglected home in this part of the American South, which is prone to high levels of humidity. The exterior wooden cornice in particular is suffering from an infestation of mould.
One of the areas with the most serious structural problems looks to be the porch. The timber appears to be rotting away – again, this is down to the humid Virginian climate – and the structure has collapsed in parts.
On the left, you can just about make out the atrocious state of the roof. Leaving the interior of the abandoned mansion exposed to the elements, the damage is very severe and the cost of repairing the structure is likely to be steep.
Over the years, the current owners of the land have reportedly supported fundraising efforts by a local historic group seeking to restore the mansion. However, it's clear that the scale of the work required here is significant.
Since 1999, the mansion has stood empty and become something of a local curiosity, but intrepid explorers would do well to stay away unless they've been given permission to explore the property.
On account of its location in the middle of a private golf course, the house is strictly out of bounds and monitored by security around the clock.
However, with the property now on the market, there may be hope on the horizon...
According to The Farmville Herald, the Dunnington Mansion Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to protecting the house and its history, is "cautiously optimistic" about the possible sale.
Heather Beach, the foundation's president, told the publication: "We hope that new owners will want to save the mansion themselves (and) partner with us to restore the house and gardens". If that's not the case, however, Beach hopes the future buyer might consider selling the mansion to the foundation.
We're keeping our fingers crossed that this magnificent manor is brought back from the brink.
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