When I moved to the Eastern Shore, one of the first reference books I purchased to learn about our area’s rich architectural history was “Where Land and Water Intertwine, An Architectural History of Talbot County, Maryland” by Christopher Weeks. An entire chapter is devoted to the illustrious Lloyd family and Wye House, their magnificent landmark estate. They were also the progenitors of many 18th century country houses built by their descendants. Edward Lloyd V, “the Governor”, gifted a property on the Miles River to one his daughters, Sarah Scott Lloyd and her husband, Lieutenant Charles Lowndes. Inspired by her childhood home, but also influenced by Greek Revival style prevalent at that time, they began to transform a modest brick dwelling into one of the great country seats of Talbot County, “The Anchorage”, which is now on the National Register.
The beauty of the symmetrical façade that rises from a slight knoll facing south to the river is dominated by a two-story projection supported by Doric columns. In the center of the portico are the main entrance double doors with exquisite diamond patterned sidelights and a graceful fanlight transom inset with an elliptical arch. On either side of the portico are porches to catch the seasonal breezes. The composition is completed by the one-story end wings with pedimented gables connected to the center wing by one-story flat roofed “hyphens”.
The double entry doors open to a wide welcoming entrance hall. The wallpaper depicted pastoral scenes of landscape and boats on the river. I loved the graceful elliptical arches that framed the wide doorways between the main floor rooms. I could easily spend countless hours in the library with its Palladian window and a window seat below for hours with a favorite book. Full-height bookcases lined the walls with one wall’s focal point being a fireplace surrounded with marble and an intricately carved mantel.
The site also contains a Timberpeg boathouse for entertaining after an afternoon on the Miles River, tennis court, windmill and a caretaker’s house.
Having been in private hands since the Lowndes completed their renovations, this landmark estate and its eleven acres is now being offered for the first time in more than a generation. An incredible opportunity to be the next stewards to preserve this historic house for future generations.
For more information about this property, contact Bob Shanahan with Shoreline Realty, Inc, at 410-822-7556 (o) 410-310-5745 (c) or [email protected], “Equal Housing Opportunity”.
Spy House of the Week is an ongoing series that selects a different home each week. The Spy’s Habitat editor Jennifer Martella makes these selections based exclusively on her experience as a architect.
Jennifer Martella has pursued her dual careers in architecture and real estate since she moved to the Eastern Shore in 2004. Her award winning work has ranged from revitalization projects to a collaboration with the Maya Lin Studio for the Children’s Defense Fund’s corporate retreat in her home state of Tennessee. Her passion for Italian food, wine and culture led her to Piazza Italian Market where she is the Director of Special Events, including weekly wine tastings and quarterly wine dinners.
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