Holly Hills is a community of single family detached homes located within the city of Williamsburg, Virginia in the heart of the Historic Triangle. Within walking distance to Colonial Williamsburg, Merchants Square, and the campus of William and Mary.
There are a total of approximately 150 homes in the Holly Hills neighborhood. 
Holly Hills has a Neighbor Awareness For Neighbor (NAFN) group that ensures that new residents are familiar with what the Association and area have to offer and makes sure that all new comers feel welcome to participate in any activity that interests them. This group also ensures appropriate Emergency Response whether the emergency is 
a family crisis or a broader area threat such as storm damage. The NAFN group is organized on an area basis within the community with qualified trained people to assist in protecting our neighbors and property.
This is a community which cares for one another but also respects the privacy of our neighbors.
History
The history of Williamsburg is well known to all of you but the history of the 
area now known as Holly Hills is also full of interest. We are grateful to Anne Geddy Cross for providing much of this information in an article in the Williamsburg Gazette a few years ago.
Holly Hills is located on part of what was the Rich Neck Plantation patented in 1635 by George Menefie and was acquired by Richard Kemp, Secretary of the Colony, who built a house near what is now 
Yorkshire Drive that passes through Holly Hills. Richard Kemp died in 1650 and his wife, Elizabeth, married Sir Thomas Lunsford for whom one of the streets in Holly Hills is named. Sir Thomas was a notorious supporter of King Charles but unlike Charles he managed to keep his head by leaving for the Colony. One of his claims to notoriety is his record shortness of tenure as lieutenant of the Tower of London; four day. Elizabeth was Sir Thomas’ third wife and he died in 1653 to be buried in a Williamsburg graveyard. Around 1665
the property passed to Thomas Ludwell, Secretary of the Colony, who renovated and enlarged the buildings. The property stayed in the Ludwell family until 1808.
Robert F. T. Cole purchased Rich Neck from the estate of William Edloe and his brother Lucius Edloe in 1846.. William Edloe’s widow, Elizabeth Travis Edloe had married Robert Cole’s father, Jesse Cole in 1842. Both had been widowed. Jesse Cole died in 1845. Robert Cole inherited his father’s home in Williamsburg now called “The Taliaferro-Cole House” and then purchased Rich Neck. Cole died in 1887 and his son, Henry Denison Cole, inherited his 
property. In 1951 “Den” Cole’s widow, Caroline Lane Cole, sold part of the Rich Neck property to the Sisters of Mercy to build Walsingham Academy.
In 1940 Mrs. Cole gave her niece, Carrie Cole, who had been raised by the Coles, and her husband, Vernon M Geddy, Sr. a piece of land at Rich Neck on which to build a new home . They called it “Holly Hill” for the many large hollies in the front yard. Mr. Geddy, an attorney, was the first Executive Vice President of Colonial Williamsburg. He was a descendent of James and Ann Geddy, a silversmith in 18th century Williamsburg.
Mrs. Geddy inherited the rest of the Rich Neck farm in 1952 when her aunt died. During her lifetime Mrs. Geddy sold part of Rich Neck, including what is
now Walnut Hills, Village Green, Rich Neck Heights and the shopping center at the corner of Jamestown Rd. and Rt. 199. When Route 199 was built, it cut off some of the property, which later became part of Williamsburg Landing.
Mrs. Geddy told many wonderful stories about driving her horse and buggy “out to the farm” as a youngster. After Mrs. Geddy’s death in 1987 her daughter and son sold part of Rich Neck to a developer who called his new development 
“Holly Hills” after Mrs. Geddy’s house. The remaining acreage along College Creek was purchased by the City of Williamsburg. Vernon M. Geddy, III and his family still own his grandparents’ home “Holly Hill”.
You can find more interesting information on the archaeological research of the Rich Neck Plantation here.
| Comments from Holly Hills Homeowners |
| Holly Hills is a special neighborhood with lovely, well-maintained homes in an easy, safe walking distance to Merchants Square, concerts and the Historic Area. Most of all though, Holly Hills is special because of the warm, friendly, people. ● “Holly Hills home prices are gems that tend to hold their value even in tough times. Homeowners know the real value of their gems that offer unique beauty, quality, location and good neighbors.”For us its about the little things. I know people like being in the City because taxes are low, but for us, it’s more about being ‘in town.’ We can walk down to the farmers’ market on Saturday mornings, or to the Friday evening concerts at the amphitheatre. We have sidewalks, so walking is easy J. It’s almost like living in the historic area. I like being on this side of town – it’s VERY convenient, regardless of whether you’re headed east to NPN/Peninsula, or anywhere else. Quick hop to get on 64, get to the airport, etc. I also like that it’s such a consistent and pretty approach…unlike some of the other spots in the area where you drive through messy areas to get to nice ones. And, we’re not very political, so we love that it’s NOT gated, and that there is no home owners’ association to speak of (I think our annual dues are around $200). We belong to the Golden Horseshoe, so we play golf, and we have the pool – for far less $ than the gated communities, and I think they’re nicer amenities (2 pools, Inn setting, etc.) than the other neighborhoods have. We’ve been here since our early 30’s. |
Click here to Search all detached homes for sale in Holly Hills in the city of Williamsburg VA
As of 1/25/2009 there were 3 homes for sale in Holly Hills in the City of Williamsburg VA. Prices ranged from $679,000 to $849,900. Sizes ranged from 2398 to 3294 square feet of living space. In the last 24 months there were 16 home sale in Holy Hills . the sold home prices ranged from $565,000 for a 2952 sq foot home to $1,2000,000 for a 5138 square foot home. the average sales price per square foot was $215.54. 2 homes are currently under contract, one listed at $1,490,000,000 and one listed at $549,000. All sales figures are supplied from the Williamsburg Area Association of Realtors MLS ( WAAR)
Click here to drive around Holly Hills in Google Street View
Click here for a map of Hill Hills Williamsburg
HOA Manager:
Berkeley Realty Management Company
907 Richmond Rd.
Williamsburg VA 23185
Contact: J. Edwin Robbins,
Telephone: (757) 229-6810
Filed under: Holly Hills | Tagged: holly hills, holy hills williamsburg, williamsburg city neighborhoods | 1 Comment »
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