At Stoneleigh, the legends of Stonewall Jackson, Mosby’s Raiders and General Phillip Sheridan live in stories of lightning Civil War raids on the villages and towns of Virginia and hiding out in the mountain valleys and lowland woods of western Loudoun County. Once a gentleman’s estate and premier dairy farm serving the Washington market, Stoneleigh’s modern history dates back to the early 1700’s, when the abundant game and fertile hills attracted pioneers. Today, Stoneleigh remains untouched by modern expansion. The quiet woods and gentle breezes remain as they have throughout history.
The Stoneleigh property is situated west of the town of Round Hill at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and has been in agricultural use since the early 18th century. It features many elevation changes, meandering streams and restored Civil War stone walls that serve to enhance what has become a premier golf course.
The Founder's Cottage is the earliest building on the property built before the purchase of the property by William McKnight in 1763. McKnight took title to the land, with houses, building and improvement ways, waters, watercourses, rights, liberties, privileges and appurtenances, for 50 pounds. The Founder's Cottage was built in the struga or monastruga style associated with early stone farmhouses in Loudoun County. The ground floor of the building was used as a stable that provided heat to the bedrooms upstairs. The building was renovated in 1989 by the Stoneleigh Group and is currently rented out as a residence.
The Manor House (or Clubhouse) at Stoneleigh was built and owned by a prosperous Virginia farmer, Mason James. A small stone wing, built by his father Thomas James was completed in 1800, and the Manor House was completed in 1852 as evidenced by a Keystone in the west elevation. In 1862, as the Civil War raged through the property, General Ulysses S. Grant ordered General Phillip Sheridan's troops to set afire to one of the barns built by James. The bam was saved by prompt action from Eliza James Harris, who climbed up and put it out.
Frame additions were constructed by Lewis J. Dodd, United States Ambassador to Germany. Dodd was responsible for the reconstruction of miles of stone wall on the property, and the construction of the stone garden walls, creating a courtyard that he often used to entertain guests.
In the late 1980's the Stoneleigh Group began renovating the buildings and property with the vision of creating a superior golf course and community. Golf course architect Lisa Maki, who was inducted into the Golf Architect’s “Hall of Fame” in 2002, completed design of the course in 1992, and the Stoneleigh Golf Club was born. Managed from its inception by Billy Casper Golf, among the nation’s most successful golf and country club management teams, Stoneleigh’s membership has grown to more than three hundred families with future expansion and growth plans in the works.
