Historic Lansdowne Farm Placed Under Permanent Conservation Easement

Spotsylvania County, VA – June 12, 2025 – The Land Trust of Virginia (LTV) proudly announces the permanent protection of Lansdowne Farm, a historically significant 11.77-acre property located just outside the City of Fredericksburg in Spotsylvania County. This easement marks LTV’s 272nd conserved property, bringing the total number of protected acres to over 35,393.

Lansdowne Farm is home to a mid-18th-century dwelling known as Lansdowne, originally built around 1755 and expanded in the early 19th century. Listed on both the Virginia Landmarks Register and the National Register of Historic Places, the home was acquired in 1772 by James Mercer, a delegate to the Continental Congress. During the Civil War, Confederate General John Bell Hood used the house to host a court-martial proceeding, and the property played a role in the Battles of Fredericksburg I and II. Today, Lansdowne remains one of the few sites in the region that retains such remarkable historic integrity, including its original chimneys, Federal-style mantels, and terraced hillside landscape.

"Lansdowne Farm is a remarkable window into Virginia’s past," said Ashton Cole, Executive Director of LTV. "We’re honored to work alongside landowners like the Backus family, whose vision and commitment ensure this extraordinary place will be protected forever."

For more than 75 years, the Backus family has lovingly stewarded the historic home and property. “Our family purchased Lansdowne in 1948 and brought it gently into the 20th century with minimal changes to the historical structures, emphasizing preservation over modern comfort,” said Curtis B. Backus III. “As we watch rapid development disrupt the creeks and springs around us, it has become imperative to secure and protect Lansdowne in perpetuity. Land Trust of Virginia was the perfect nexus in preserving both the environment’s integrity and historical structures.”

In addition to its historical significance, Lansdowne Farm protects mature hardwood forests, valuable agricultural soils, and important water resources, including a pond and an intermittent stream that flow into the Rappahannock River and ultimately the Chesapeake Bay. The conservation easement ensures that these natural and cultural resources remain undisturbed, even as development continues to intensify across the Fredericksburg region.

With the permanent protection of Lansdowne Farm, LTV furthers its mission to help landowners across Virginia preserve the Commonwealth’s most treasured landscapes and historic places for generations to come.