Virginia Department of Historic Resources Virginia Department of Historic Resources
For additional information, read the Nomination Form PDF
VLR Listing Date 04/18/1972
NRHP Listing Date 05/31/1972
NRHP Reference Number 72001513
Petersburg’s oldest building, Blandford Church was built by Thomas Ravenscroft in 1734-37 as the principal church of Bristol Parish. Its north wing and the brick wall surrounding the original burying ground were added between 1752 and 1770 by Col. Richard Bland, undertaker. The church was largely abandoned after a new church was built on Courthouse Hill in 1802. It fell into ruins, but its handsome Flemish-bond brick walls survived relatively unharmed. Around the ruins was developed Blandford Cemetery, a large municipal graveyard. In 1901 the city council authorized the Petersburg Ladies’ Memorial Association to restore the building as a monument to the Confederate dead. As part of the restoration, the association commissioned Louis Comfort Tiffany to design stained glass windows for each state of the Confederacy. This collection of Tiffany glass, including a special window donated by Tiffany, is one of Virginia’s artistic treasures.
Many properties listed in the registers are private dwellings and are not open to the public, however many are visible from the public right-of-way. Please be respectful of owner privacy.
Abbreviations:
VLR: Virginia Landmarks Register
NPS: National Park Service
NRHP: National Register of Historic Places
NHL: National Historic Landmark
Updated: July 1, 2021
