Old Glasgow House
Rockbridge County, Virginia


Old Glasgow House (c. 1820) is nestled in a quiet river valley just five miles from the quaint college town of Lexington, Virginia. This secluded brick home is surrounded by 144 conserved acres of woods, pastures, ponds, and wetlands. A twenty-minute drive from the Blue Ridge Parkway, the property offers mountain views and almost a mile of walkable river frontage. The property affords extensive opportunities for wildlife viewing and bird watching.

For many years the large home has been divided into two separate living spaces. The owners, a woodworker and teacher, inhabit half of this quiet, spacious house and offer hospitality to guests who would also enjoy this unique setting. The rental suite is on the first floor of the home and includes a private entrance, bedroom with queen bed, adjacent bathroom, spacious living room, eat-in kitchen, patio and parking. Artwork abounds, as do well-loved yet still functional antique furnishings from early America and the Middle East. Eclectic yet simple in style, the décor reflects the warm creative spirit of the owners as well as the country character of their almost two hundred year-old home.

The home was originally built by the Glasgow family. The foundation stones were quarried on the property and the bricks were also produced nearby. Construction proceeded through several stages, but within a couple of decades the house assumed its final shape, which included four iconic columns, hence its early name, “Tuscan Villa.”

Generations of Glasgows occupied the house until the final family member sold the farm in 1965 to an energetic couple, parents of the current residents. The new owners undertook a major renovation of the house, installing such new-fangled features as an in-house kitchen, indoor plumbing, electricity, and central heat. Apparently closets were still too avant-garde at the time. All the original woodwork was preserved, including a mantelpiece in each room. Most of the new amenities are located in a wood-framed addition nestled between the two wings of the home.

Few changes have been made to the house since its original renovation fifty years ago, thus keeping the home close to its roots. The patina of history has been preserved, with imperfection and wear an integral part of the home’s character. Those who enjoy nature, history, and secluded mountain-valley views will find a stay in this authentic country home to be a welcome respite from the daily rush of modern life, and a gift to the human spirit.