GEOGRAPHY & GROUNDS

Elsing Green is located along the Pamunkey River  in King William County, Virginia.  King William County was formed in 1702 and named for William of Orange, King of England.  The county lies on Virginia’s middle peninsula between the Mattaponi and the Pamunkey rivers which ultimately join to form the York River.  While King William County continues to be a rural county, it is rich in history. Elsing Green is an historic, Colonial Virginia plantation and has been in continuous operation for over 300 years.  Elsing Green currently consists of approximately 2254 acres.  Much of the land is cultivated to continue to maintain Elsing Green as an operating plantation.  The remainder consists of woods, marsh, and swamp land, currently serving as a wildlife refuge,  and gardens which have been returned to their earlier state by planting formal  and informal  gardens in the English style around the home. Also situated on the property are a smoke house, spring house, gate house,  two necessaries, and a plantation office.  The Lafferty family personally designed, laid out and planted the gardens, shrubbery and trees resulting in a beautiful, simple and natural setting for one of this country’s most beautiful  homes.  The preservation easements placed on Elsing Green protect the gardens, graveyard and entrance to Elsing Green as well as its buildings.  The Pamunkey River lies about 250 yards in front of the lowest terrace in front of the manor house.