Milburne

Milburne, commissioned by Ambassador Walter Robertson, is one of four Bottomley houses in Windsor Farms and one of two that are visible from the street. It is sited to overlook the James River, with a gated entrance on axis with a pedimented central block flanked by hyphens and wings. As is typical of Bottomley's work, especially by the 1930s, when he had gained his stride, every detail is carefully studied, and all the proportions are correct. Commonly labeled as suburban James River Georgian Revival in style, the house is largely derived from Palladio. The interior, however, is more Adamesque or Federal Revival in character. The initial landscaping was by Gillette, but Arthur Shurcliff from Colonial Williamsburg worked on the river terrace. Umberto Innocenti of New York designed the wrought iron railing on the retaining wall for the river terrace. The walled garden on the east was the design of Alden Hopkins, also of Colonial Williamsburg.