The property is set on more than 1,100 acres
Listing of the Day
Location: Upperville, Virginia
Price: $34 million
Not one, not two, but three polo fields are located on the historic 1,100-acre Llangollen estate in the foothills of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains.
But polo is just one of the many features of Llangollen, which dates back to 1795 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2017.
The current owners, Donald P. Brennan, former head of Morgan Stanley Capital Partners, and his wife, Patricia, have made numerous updates to buildings and grounds at Llangollen over the last 12 years.
Scrupulous attention has been paid to the historic details of the home, according to the Brennans. At the same time, the homes have been updated to meet the needs of today’s buyers. And the infrastructure on the property, such as roads, fences and ponds, has been improved and continue to be maintained.
Last, but not least, they have brought polo to the Llangollen estate.
“The property is now home to a world-class polo complex with three polo fields, which are considered to be the best fields in the entire Mid-Atlantic region,” Mr. Brennan said in an email. “The complex contains every possible amenity necessary to support a competitive polo operation.”
Stats
Set on more than 1,100 acres, the main residence, the manor house, offers about 10,000 square feet of living space over nine bedrooms, eight bathrooms and three half bathrooms. There is also a five-bedroom, six-bathroom guest house, as well as several outbuildings, including stables, barns and other facilities.
Amenities
The manor house was built in a grand antebellum Federal style, with columns framing the portico and a curving wooden staircase in the foyer. It sits on 30 acres of manicured lawns and gardens, according to the listing.
“We consider Llangollen to be a magical place,” the Brennans wrote. “Its beauty is unparalleled, from the siting of the manor house on the east face of the Blue Ridge Mountains to unobstructed views of 20-plus miles north, south and east.”
There’s seemingly no end to the equestrian activities possible at Llangollen. The horseshoe-shaped stable, on the 30 acres of the main campus, offers 24 stalls, plus a tack room, carriage room and office. There are an additional seven stables on the property, with stalls for more than 100 horses.
Trails, barns, a 5/8-mile track, an arena, a viewing pavilion and the aforementioned polo fields are also part of the estate, according to the listing. In addition, the property boasts eight ponds, six miles of interior roads, a hitting cage and a barbecue pavilion.
Design Pedigree
The Llangollen estate has hundreds of years of history, and the Brennans have worked to preserve that while bringing modern amenities to the home.
“It was important to us to maintain the character and integrity of this unique and historic property,” the couple said in an email.
The property has a more than 200-year history. The Marquis de Lafayette, the French officer who fought in the Revolutionary War, stayed on the property in 1824, and it was the site of the prelude to the Battle of Gettysburg in 1863, according to the listing.
Later, in 1932, “Jock” Whitney, son of J. H. Whitney, a notable financiers of the era, renovated the property’s existing buildings while adding an array of new ones. The Brennans took the same care in their stewardship of the estate.
“All of the primary residential buildings, which includes the manor house as well as three other large homes, have been modernized with all the amenities and conveniences found in most new homes today.”
The manor house has 24 rooms, with 17 working fireplaces, plus a stone garage and a separate three-car garage. Many of the historic furnishings and other artifacts of the home will remain, the listing stated.
There is a separate five-bedroom, six-bathroom jockey house, or guest house, which has its own garden and two-car garage, plus an ice house, potting shed and blacksmith shop—just in case a horse drops a shoe. Seven tenant houses, with two, three and five bedrooms, are also located on the property.
Neighborhood Notes
The estate is about 60 miles from Washington, D.C. and two international airports. There are also two private airports nearby and the property is helicopter accessible.
Upperville, Virginia, is a short drive from Llangollen, which is a small town with shops and restaurants, as well as an annual horse show.
Agent: Julie Brodie, Engel & Völkers Tysons