Ratcliffe Manor

Content sourced from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Ratcliffe Manor is a Georgian colonial house on the Tred Avon River near Easton, Maryland. Construction began around 1757 and was completed about 1762 for Henry Hollyday, on the Mannour of Ratcliffe land grant, one of Maryland’s oldest. The house is noted for its two nearly identical facades—one facing the land approach and one facing the river—built in Flemish-bond red brick with a symmetrical five-bay main block and a wing that originally housed the kitchen.

The manor sits on a large estate that once included more than 1,000 acres. The land approach is lined with a long driveway, while the river side once featured a terraced garden. Inside, the home is known for its well-preserved mid-18th-century woodwork, with the most elaborate room being a river-facing parlor.

The Hollyday family owned Ratcliffe Manor for about 140 years. Notable residents included Richard C. Hollyday, Maryland’s Secretary of State, and U.S. Senator Charles Hopper Gibson. During the War of 1812, a six-gun fort, Fort Stoakes, stood on the property to defend Easton; the town itself was not attacked, though nearby battles occurred.

In the 20th century, Ratcliffe Manor became a dairy farm. It was sold to diplomat Gerard C. Smith in 1945, who restored the house and grounds. The property was partly sold off in 1995, and today the manor is privately owned with a private access road. A nearby development called Easton Village sits on part of the old estate, while the house remains a separate residence.

Ratcliffe Manor is listed in historic inventories and was photographed for the Historic American Buildings Survey.