The Manor at Anwesen was built in 1859 by Edward Beazley, a successful Planter and Businessman. Mr. Beazley took advantage of the abundant resources in building his house of heart pine weatherboard over a brick, tall English Basement while capturing the Italianate influence popular in the mid 19th Century. What is rare in ANWESEN is the side-passage, double-pile design. There were others in the Historic District of similar design, notably Hilton, Springdale and High Point, but most were later expanded to a central passage plan. Indeed, the Beazley descendants have indicated it was their ancestors intent to expand the house and lumber was stacked to do so upon the outbreak of the Civil War. Orange County was the center of activity for much of the War and the lumber was burned by troops as firewood leaving ANWESEN as the sole survivor of the side-passage plan in the Historic District.

The manor is privately situated in the center of the farm with broad views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The plan is of very pleasing scale and is reminiscent today of a Georgetown Townhouse set amidst the splendor of the Virgina Countryside. Flush chimneys provide the source for 7 fireplaces and the heart pine floors await restoration to expose their natural hue.

Dependencies include a rare box-frame building of heavy timber construction with rubblestone chimney built 1850-1870 that may have served as Slave Quarters but clearly served as a schoolhouse after the War. Interestingly, the interior was never sheathed. The 1860 Smoke House remains but a Summer Kitchen which stood on the current Gazebo site was removed by a previous owner. There are the remains of a Sourghum Mill site where the circular path of the mules powering the Mill Stone is still evident.

Like many of its neighbors, ANWESEN is protected in perpetuity by a conservation easement. A copy of the easement is available but the basic tenets provide for additional dwelling(s), barns, stables, pools, etc., for modern living while also providing for any changes contemplated at the Manor.

This area has always been known for its large farms and historic houses. After the War, the rich soil, large farms and the antebellum transportation network remained intact and the prosperity of the 1850s was not entirely lost. These areas continued to prosper and, even today, the rich soil provides a foundation for abundant agricultural opportunities and the large farms provide rare privacy. In many ways, the intrusion of 20th Century Man are absent.

ANWESEN is located in SW Orange County approximately 25 minutes from Charlottesville and the University of Virginia and the University of Virginia Medical Center.