A winning argument could be made that western Fauquier County looks much as it did in the 1800s. Its pastoral landscape still offers a mantel of rolling hills, verdant pastures, and dense forests all backdropped by the distant Blue Ridge Mountains.

Of course, growth has populated the area over the last 200 years, but its rolling, softly curving former wagon roads still showcase inspiring vistas almost identical to those enjoyed by our forefathers. Artists passing through the region today would instinctively reach for their brushes.

One extended stretch of this majestic landscape is Leeds Manor Road, threading the villages of Orlean and Hume like a gold chain and showcasing two perfect pearls. Its name springs from the 18th-century Manor of Leeds, which was part of Lord Fairfax’s Northern Neck Proprietary.

The villages are six miles apart and reached by traveling west from Warrenton on U.S. Route 211 for about five miles and taking a right onto Leeds Manor Road for another five miles before arriving at Orlean.

Orlean is a quintessential small village situated in the heart of Virginia’s Piedmont with mountain views to the west. The town was established in the early 1800s and named in honor of Andrew Jackson’s defeat of the British at the Battle of New Orleans in 1815.

It encompasses 51 buildings, including commercial buildings, churches, a post office, a former school, and multiple residences and their ancillary outbuildings that date from the late 18th century to the mid-20th century.

Notable dwellings include the Orlean Farm House, Smith-Hinkley House, the Anderson-Rector House and Store, the Greek Revival Thorpe-Cornwell House, Jeffries Store, Orlean Methodist Church, Providence Baptist Church, and the post office building. The town was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2009.

The town’s focal point is the Orlean Market & Pub. Originally established in 1870, it provided asylum from harsh winter travel between Warrenton and Marshall and also served as the community meeting place, connecting the local population.

Today, the Market serves restaurant and pub food in addition to catering events. Fresh and local ingredient entrees are available Wednesday through Saturday evenings, delighting the palates of both the locals and visitors.

Its small grocery store, boasting a selection of Virginia wine and craft beers, offers social lubricants to round out the food offerings or for carryout for an evening’s repast.

Special events and live music are offered periodically, and perhaps most importantly, they have the only gas station within miles of the village. A short walk from the Market is The Village Green. The shop sells gifts, antiques, furniture, and in-season plants. The building is almost a century old and was originally a general store.

As you leave the village headed north toward Hume, take note of the town’s latest pride and joy on your left, a new $6.9 million volunteer fire and rescue department completed in 2019.

Hume was incorporated in 1848. In the mid-19th century, it was known as Barbee’s Crossroads—after Joseph Barbee—who leased the land from Denny Fairfax in 1787. The village is six miles north of Orlean and situated at the end of what was then known as the Leeds Manor Turnpike. The village center is at the corner of Leeds Manor Road and Hume Road, formerly known as the “Crossroads.”

In the past, the original town had three stores and four blacksmith shops. Large cattle farms in the surrounding area employed many families. During the American Civil War, wounded from the First and Second Battles of Bull Run were taken to Barbee’s Crossroads.

The Episcopal Church of Leed’s Parish was occupied at different times by both Union and Confederate soldiers. As a result of nearby fighting, the church walls were damaged by a shell that exploded inside the church. In 1873, the church burned and was rebuilt.

The Philip Carter Winery is just north of the village and open year-round, offering a delightful tasting room and beautiful grounds for sipping and picnicking. Driving west for four miles on Hume Road, you will reach the Marriott Ranch Bed & Breakfast.

The ranch manor house is called Fairfield; it was built in 1814 by James Markham Marshall, brother of the fourth Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, John Marshall—the “Babe Ruth of the Supreme Court,” having written or co-written over 1,000 decisions.

The Marshall brothers, along with Raleigh Colston, paid $70,000 for 220,000 acres after the Revolutionary War. They divided the property into three separate ownerships, with James taking possession of 80,000 acres.

Virginia residents are blessed with many historical areas to visit, and Fauquier County offers some of the finest. Next time you’re looking for a day getaway, turn the family chariot into the “Orlean-Hume Express” and take an excursion back in time.

Published in February 2020 in Discover Fauquier.