Near Midlothian in Chesterfield County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Bellona Arsenal

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, May 10, 2009

1. Bellona Arsenal Marker

Inscription. In 1810 Major John Clarke and noted Richmond lawyer, William Wirt, established a weapons factory for the U.S. War Department on the south bank of the James River five miles north of here. Bellona Arsenal, (named for the Roman goddess of war,) was erected in 1816. After five years of disuse, it was leased to Thomas Mann Randolph in 1837 (for use as a silk worm farm.) Junius L. Archer bought the property in 1856, and on January 1, 1863, he leased both the arsenal and foundry to the Confederate government. Bellona Arsenal became one of Virginia's leading producers of arms.

Erected 1987 by Department of Conservation and Historic Resources. (Marker Number O-40.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series list. A significant historical month for this entry is January 1906.

Location. Marker has been reported missing. It was located near 37° 30.369′ N, 77° 34.795′ W. Marker was near Midlothian, Virginia, in Chesterfield County. It was at the intersection of Midlothian Turnpike

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(U.S. 60) and Robious Road, on the right when traveling west on Midlothian Turnpike. Touch for map. Marker was in this post office area: Richmond VA 23235, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker was in Virginia’s Piedmont,

in Central Virginia,

and in the Richmond Metropolitan Area.

It was also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it was in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it found itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this location, measured as the crow flies: A different marker also named Bethlehem Baptist Church (approx. 0.4 miles away); First Railroad in Virginia (approx. half a mile away); Black Heath (approx. 1.9 miles away); Huguenot Settlement (approx. 2 miles away); Providence United Methodist Church (approx. 2.2 miles away);

Midlothian Turnpike (facing west) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, May 10, 2009

2. Midlothian Turnpike (facing west)

Trabue's Tavern (approx. 2.3 miles away); Lt. Gen. Ambrose Powell Hill, CSA (approx. 3 miles away); Mid-Lothian Mines and Rail Roads (approx. 3½ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Midlothian.

Other markers no longer nearby. Chesterfield Railroad (was a few steps from this marker but has been confirmed missing); Bethlehem Baptist Church (was approx. 0.4 miles away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

Also see . . . Bellona Arsenal (pdf file). National Register of Historic Places (Submitted on June 5, 2010, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.)

Bellona Arsenal, Workshops image. Click for full size.

Historic American Buildings Survey, circa 1937

3. Bellona Arsenal, Workshops

Library of Congress [HABS VA,21-____,3-]

Historic American Buildings Survey, circa 1937

4. Bellona Arsenal, Workshops

Library of Congress [HABS VA,21-____,3-]

Credits. This page was last revised on November 10, 2019. It was originally submitted on May 16, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 4,512 times since then and 82 times this year. Last updated on November 8, 2019, by H of Richmond, Virginia. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 16, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. 3, 4. submitted on August 10, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.