DOVER
Sabot vicinity, Goochland County
Built 1845; burned 1933
Photograph: Virginia Historical Society
In opulence, Dover stood apart from most of its neighbors. It was a rival even to Berry Hill, Halifax County, the most
imposing Greek residence in the commonwealth. Dover was built for James Morson, a lawyer from Fredericksburg who
was married to Ellen Bruce. Her father was James Bruce of Woddburn. Dover's interior was a sumptuous display of classical detailing. The Corinthian order of the exterior was
repeated throughout the first floor, in a grand entrance hall and in remarkably ornate reception rooms. Though Dover
burned in the early 20th century, the complex of former slave quarters survives nearby. The ruins of the main house stood
until the 1970s, when they were removed as a safety hazard.
Next: Adams-Van Lew House
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