House of the Week: The Bartlett Pear Inn

I have long admired the stately brick building at a corner of S. Harrison St. and South Lane with its distinctive provenance involving several of Talbot County’s prominent citizens of the past.  Benjamin Stevens purchased three contiguous Town lots in 1790 and construction of his two and one half story house in the Georgian style commenced soon after.  When Stevens died in 1794, the house passed to his father, John Stevens, who built Compton, another of Talbot County’s treasured properties. In 1845, Samuel Hambleton, scion of another Talbot County family, purchased this property and made modifications of a two-bay addition to the side and a two-story front porch. 

For the past twelve years, the property has been the Bartlett Pear Inn.  My first introduction to the property during Chef Jordan Lloyd’s tenure was a delicious dinner celebration.  My dinner companion was also an architect and as he and I walked up the street to the front porch, we admired the proportions of the façade, the pattern of the English bond brick, brick details of the water table and belt courses, black shutters, the articulated tops of the brick chimneys, the decorative railings of the two porches and the fluted moldings around the entry door with its transom and half sidelights. Both the porch’s exposed brick pier foundation infilled with lattice are painted white so the porch stands out against the brick of the building.

We arrived early so we could stroll through the side garden area with one of landscape designer Jan Kirsh’s delightful pear (of course) sculptures which still overlooks the garden from its high pedestal. I recently learned that Jan also designed the garden hardscape and landscape. At the same time, she also designed the garden of the Ashley Insurance Company next door to the Inn to blend both gardens seamlessly together. Behind the garden is a towering Magnolia that provides shade for the rear yard next to the off-street parking. My dinner companion and I were very lucky to be seated at the  table for two in the bay window alcove for a very memorable repast. At twilight we were treated to the sight of Jan’s inspired design of freestanding columns that support crisscross strings of lights to create a glass “ceiling” of miniature lights.  

Last week when I toured the Inn, I greatly admired the creative use of color and the imaginative interiors that are the work of the Inn Proprietor, Alice Lane Lloyd.  I especially loved the front sitting room with its deep augbergine walls, white trim and the bright rose colored floral rug that anchored the eclectic furnishings of two cushioned rattan chairs opposite a long banquette with leaves in bright colors over a dark background.  A former doorway behind the banquette is now a bookcase and the antique fireplace surround is opposite the vista from the entry into the room. Such an appealing room with the perfect ambiance to sip an aperitif until one’s table is ready. 

Opposite the aubergine parlor is the spacious dining room set up for the B&B guests.  The room is filled with light from the two front tall windows the side bay window and French doors to the screened porch. The discreet sound attenuation panels suspended below the ceiling keep the conversation noise low. The screened porch overlooks the garden and an exterior door leads down to the landscape and terrace for a stroll underneath the stars before turning in for the night. 

In keeping with the “pear” theme, each guest room is named for a particular variety of pear, from Bosc, Comice, Concord ,Green Anjou, Forelle, Seckel and  Starkrimson.  Not only do they have charming names but each room also has its own unique interior design. One suite is located on the first floor, four are located on the second and the two suites are tucked under the roof slope of the third floor.  I loved the colors of the walls that ranged from apricot, cranberry, light blue, bright blue, light purple, red and sage green.  The richly appointed rooms are accented with art and accessories that impart their own distinctive personalities to create a restful haven for a brief or long stay.  The wide center hall on the second floor leads to the porch and is furnished with cushioned rattan furniture for relaxing and enjoying the bird’s eye view of the streetscape below.  

If the Inn were ever converted into apartments, I am sure it would be quickly rented by architecture buffs.  I would be the first to claim the apartment that could include the first floor dining room with the bay window and screened porch. However, this is my love letter to the Inn and I hope that it continues to be the delightful destination it has been for so many patrons who have happy memories of their stays there celebrating birthdays, anniversaries and other special occasions. It may be a long time before I can travel to a vacation destination; in the meantime, I would enjoy booking each room in the Inn for overnight getaways and fully experience this stately Inn, its grounds and the gracious hospitality of Innkeeper Alice Lane Lloyd.

For more information about this property, contact Long and Foster Real Estate agents Annie Witte Raymond at 410-770-3600 (o), 410-310-9387 (c),  [email protected], or Gary Marquardt at 410-228-2050 (o), 410-725-6238 (c) or [email protected]. 

For more photographs and pricing visit www.anniewitteraymond.com or www.garysellshomes.com, Equal Housing Opportunity”. Photography by Eve Fishell, www.chesapeakeprophoto.com, 443-786-8025. Pear sculpture by Jan Kirsh Studio, www.jankirshstudio.com, 410-745-5252 (o),410-310-119