Tour Arlington, the mysterious abandoned mansion in Natchez, Mississippi
Explore this once-grand antebellum house

Desolate and forlorn, the once-glorious Arlington estate in Natchez, Mississippi, is considered one of the most important heritage buildings in the area. Yet despite its historical significance, the grand Federal mansion is crumbling into ruin, as Leland Kent of Abandoned Southeast discovered on a recent visit. Unravel the home's tragic tale and discover why this alluring Southern belle has been left to languish.
Early history

Approaching the derelict brick mansion, which stands on 55 acres of untended grounds, it's hard not to be moved by the mansion's sorry state. Details of the property's early history are sketchy to say the least but according to local legend, the land on which Arlington sits was acquired by local sheriff Lewis Evans in the early 1800s and reportedly sold on in 1814 to a real estate speculator called Jonathan Thompson.
Love this? Tour the enchanting abandoned millionaire's house in Florida
Uncertain origins

The origins of the home are somewhat unclear. According to Arlington's nomination form for the National Register of Historic Places, the estate may have been designed by New Jersey native John Hampton White for his wife, Jane Surget White, sometime between 1816 and 1821. Other sources think Jane herself or indeed her father, Pierre Surget, a French immigrant, could be behind the opulent design. In any case, the property became the marital home of John and Jane, albeit for a short time.
Tragedy strikes

Ruined entrance

Elegant space

Grand construction

Changing hands

After Jane Surget White's death in 1825, the property passed to her sister, Mrs. Bingaman, and stayed in the Surget family until it was bought by Mississippi Supreme Court Judge Samuel Stillman Boyd around the mid-19th century. Many of the treasures of the house were passed from owner to owner.
Love this? Step inside the mysterious abandoned mansion rumoured to be built on gold
Legendary library

Decaying drawing room

Gilded splendour

Preserved for posterity

Priceless pieces

Fine staircase

Following Judge Boyd's death in 1867, Arlington is thought to have sat vacant for a long period. The mansion was purportedly snapped up in 1917 by a Mrs L. S. Gillette, who lived there until 1924. Framed by a grand columned archway, this old photograph shows how the home's staircase looked before it went to wrack and ruin.
Love this? Tour the abandoned old house untouched for 40 years
Wedding gift

Avid collector

Tragedy strikes again

National recognition

Absentee owner

Devastating blaze

Sorry shell

Action taken

When it went up in flames, the property lacked adequate insurance and an extensive renovation would likely cost a fortune. Left to languish, the Natchez Preservation Commission even went as far as to bring legal action against Dr. Vaughan for demolition by neglect, as reported by The Natchez Democrat.
A legal lifebelt

According to City Planner Riccardo Giani, who spoke with The Natchez Democrat, Dr. Vaughan has been unresponsive to requests to overhaul the mansion. Consequently, legal proceedings have begun that could result in City of Natchez officials taking action to restore the estate and recover the renovation costs from the owner through fines. As Arlington's fate hangs in the balance, here's hoping its fortunes change and the antebellum landmark is restored to its former glory once more.
Love this? Tour the abandoned Tennessee ghost town where millionaires vacationed
Comments
Be the first to comment
Do you want to comment on this article? You need to be signed in for this feature