I recently attended an event by the Virginia Opera which Battersea played host to. I was not really sure what to expect from or about Battersea itself, up until now I had never heard of it. The house or "villa" was built in 1768 by Col. John Banister, the first Mayor of Petersburg. It is located on 30 acres in Petersburg it is very picturesque and beautiful, I learned that the PBS series "Mercy Street" used the land surrounding the house for filming in their second season. The Battersea Foundation purchased the property on June 14, 2011 and hosts cultural events throughout the year.
If you are into architecture and history, I can tell you this may be a place you might want to visit, as there is restoration ongoing and the foundation will be partnering with the University of Virginia to use Battersea as a historic classroom, since little is known about it and its former inhabitants.
If planning a visit know that there is electricity indoors, but no indoor bathroom facilities, and it's pretty tucked away off the beaten path. You might want to have an additional destination in mind in the area, or just visit here as a stop-off when passing through the I-95 Petersburg area. read more