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Charles City County, Virginia, USA. While there is no city in the county, in spite of its name, there are several colonial-era plantations. The oldest is Shirley Plantation, which is also the oldest in Virginia. Farming started by Edward Hill in 1632 by a crown grant, with the house being built in 1723-1738. The great house is much as it was originally. A number of the original outbuildings are still in use. Interestingly, it is still owned and operated by descendants of the original family, with one living on the upper floors, while visitors can tour the first level. It is still an operating farm, principally growing cotton. The great house is perfectly symmetrical, with the road and James River facades identical, and the side facades the same. In the heyday of the plantation, visitors would have approached via boat on the river. As well, produce would have been loaded on boats for transportation to markets. We commoners would have used the road approach, with the approach from the road seen here.