Oakenham House

Avoca is just one of many historic homes in Virginia, but it might be surprising to learn that the Fauntleroy family has ties to historic homes all throughout the state of Virginia. One of these homes is located in the Saluda Historic District of Middlesex County. Known as Oakenham, this historic home is the oldest house in Saluda. Constructed in 1837 by Thomas Waring Fauntleroy (1801-1876), the father of Avoca’s own Thomas Fauntleroy (1838-1911), Oakenham house is currently privately owned. According to the genealogical research of Juliet Fauntleroy, Thomas Waring Fauntleroy was a member of the Confederacy Home Guard during the Civil War. Oakenham was even reportedly raided by Union troops during the war. Due to this raid, Juliet Fauntleroy writes that Thomas Waring and the other members of the home guard were forced to spend days hiding in the forests of Saluda so as not to be caught and hung by Union troops. Despite Oakenham’s troubles during the 1860s, the home remained within the ownership of Thomas Waring Fauntleroy, where he lived out the rest of his days in as much peace that could be found in the post-Civil War South.