Historic Chelsea

Historic Chelsea is an outdoor waterfront venue that provides the elegance of a historic estate with a twist of rustic charm. Conveniently located 30 minutes west of Williamsburg, Virginia, and 30 minutes east of Richmond, Virginia, in King William County, the estate can accommodate as many as 300 guests for a ceremony and reception under the stars, or a more intimate cocktail-style affair in the main house for 25 guests. Two elegant ready rooms with waterfront views, two sitting rooms and a formal dining room are provided for close family and the wedding party. Guests can sip a cocktail in the estate's riverside gazebo and take a stroll back in time along the property's carriage trail. Boasting much of the same architecture today that it did more than 300 years ago, Historic Chelsea was built in 1709 by Augustine Moore, a successful tobacco entrepreneur. Guests may find themselves walking in the footsteps of General Marquis de Lafayette who, with his troops, set up camp at Historic Chelsea and established Lafayette’s headquarters in the main house prior to the Battle of Yorktown in 1781. Or they may enter a room once visited by George Washington, who is said to have frequented Chelsea as a Moore family friend. Following multiple owners, Historic Chelsea was purchased in 1959 by the Richardson family who listed the main house on the National Register of Historic Places in 1969. After three generations, Chelsea remains in the family and is currently owned by siblings Erik Richardson and Christie Richardson Miller who are working with their families to continue Chelsea’s legacy and breathe new life into the historic estate.