Amazing Longwood

[rpcrowe]

In the Mississippi city of Natchez, deep among forest trees dripping with Spanish moss, stands an unfinished “Oriental Villa” known as Longwood. Planned in 1859 for cotton-nabob Dr. Haller Nutt by Philadelphia’s fashionable architect, Samuel Sloan, this eight-sided castle was begun in 1860. Work halted abruptly in 1861, when the Confederate bugles echoed across the South. The Pennsylvanian artisans, busy on the Arabian palace, heeded Mr. Lincoln’s call-to-arms and immediately dropped saws and hammers, heading North to pick up rifles and bayonets, never to return. Haller Nutt fled Mississippi for Louisiana during the Civil War and never returned.



The only portion of Longwood that was finished prior to the outbreak of the Civil War was the basement. This was used as a residence for many years after the Civil War ended. The Natchez Garden Club which maintains many of Natchez mansions doesn't allow photography in the finished portion of Longwood. Only the unfinished upper shell is available to photographers. However it is very interesting to see how the house was built...



This is the unfinished tower interior...



A very interesting architectural detail is the wood block mortared into the brick wall. The hinges of the large doors were planned to be attached to these wood blocks...



Natchez did not suffer the destruction inflicted on many other Confederate cities during the Civil War and has a wonderful collection of mansions built during the time when "King Cotton" ruled the South and Natchez was one of the main cities of the Confederate States of America.

[Donald]

Excellent control of exposure across this set, Richard. And an informative text to accompany them.

[CougarFool]

Thanks for posting these: very interesting comments.