Overseer's house

The Overseer's house from the front.

NPS/Tim Ervin

Built in the mid-eighteenth century, the Overseer's House is the oldest extant building on the Hampton property. The house served as a temporary residence while the Ridgelys were visiting their Northampton iron works and later during construction of the Mansion. Around 1745, the original two-story structure (on right in image) was built. Later in the eighteenth century, a second three-bay structure was added to the north, the older portion of the house was moved approximately 10’ south, and a single-story link was built between the two portions. Renovations to the interior of the house were made circa 1770), possibly to prepare the residence for Captain Charles Ridgely while the Mansion was under construction.

 

The bell on top of the lower house would often signal the beginning and end of the plantation work day.

NPS/Tim Ervin

Around 1840, the Overseer's House was expanded to include a three-bay kitchen wing to the east, and side and rear porches were added. . Other alterations to the Overseer's House during the 1800s include the addition of the west porch and replacement of the link by 1900. Alterations in the 1930s include installation of electricity and modern plumbing and the removal of the west porch.

The Overseer's House housed the home farm's overseer throughout the majority of the nineteenth century, and the farm manager after the abolition of chattel slavery in Maryland in 1864. During the 1930s, the Overseer's House was known by the historic name Huntsman’s Lodge and served house guests who attended foxhunting events at Hampton. From 1948 until 1980 when the farm side was acquired by the National Park Service, the Overseer's House was the residence of John Ridgely, Jr and his wife Jane Rodney Ridgely.

The Overseer's House yard was fenced in the 18th century and later to keep livestock from getting too close. The outlying farm landscape was once lined with fences and hedgerows that defined the quarters of the enslaved, pens for the animals, and fields and pastures. A portion of the West Farm Field remains today and is planted annually by park staff with rye, oats, or corn to evoke its historic agricultural character.

 

More Buildings on the farm side

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  Quarters of the Enslaved

  An overview of the still standing Quarters of the Enslaved, on Hampton's farm side.

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  Farm Support Structures

  The buildings that made Hampton's agriculture possible.

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  On overview of the farm side

  Farm Side

  The places that can be found on the farm side of Hampton NHS

 

Learn More

• 

  Who Lived Here Exhibit

  Learn about the people that made Hampton what it is today.

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  Individual lives in focus

  Learn about how each person was still a unique individual with their own story and experience.

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  History & Culture

  History & Culture

  Hampton was once a 25,000-acre commercial, industrial, and agricultural plantation. Discover its history here.