An exquisite example of Victorian Aesthetic architecture, the Foster-Thomason-Miller House in Madison, Georgia, was once considered the most elegant country home in the state. In a tragic turn of events, the property was abandoned in 2001 following a devastating fire and has lain empty ever since. Captured by photographer Leland Kent of Abandoned Southeast, uncover the secrets of this achingly beautiful estate and tour its lavish interiors before and after the blaze. 

Foster hired master craftsman Daniel Townes to design the house, which was erected on the foundations of the Georgia Female College. The pioneering institution was destroyed by fire in 1880. The young visionary spared no expense on the property's numerous decorative features and upon completion, the house was regarded as one of the most elegant in Georgia.

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Tragedy struck in 2001 when the aforementioned fire gutted the kitchen and inflicted severe smoke and water damage on the rest of the property. Not long after the blaze, the Millers, who must have been absolutely distraught, sold the property to prominent Kansas businessman Von Friesen and his wife Christy.

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The fire-damaged exterior and interiors of the property were captured recently by photographer Leland Kent and feature on his Abandoned Southeast website. As you can see from this image of the entrance hall, the house has seen much better days, but many of the original features remain, albeit not in the best of shape.

This close-up of the mantel shows the tiles in all their splendour. The ceramic beauties were produced by famed English pottery factory Minton, and illustrate the four Seasons poems by Scottish author James Thomson. Interestingly, Oscar Wilde included the poems in a list of 'books not to read at all', albeit with a heavy dose of sarcasm.

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The house has two bathrooms, the first of which doesn't look very inviting in its current state. Nevertheless, the toilet, sinks and window frames, along with the shutters, are in relatively good shape, having escaped the worst of the flames.

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The conservation enthusiasts certainly have their work cut out. Thankfully, the house is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is eligible for generous tax reliefs and other financial incentives, which should help drive down the duo's costs significantly. While the road to renovation is likely to be long, we can't wait to see this architectural gem reborn from the ashes.

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