HENRICO COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- Restoration work is underway at Varina on the James, the home located on the historic 2,095-acre Varina Farms. The Classic Revival-style home was built in 1853. Henrico County bought the home and land in 2023 and 2024, respectively. The budget for the repairs is $1.6 m illion. Two weeks ago, asbestos remediation began, with more work to begin soon. “You’re going to see the windows coming out, you’re going to see the jack arches being repaired and brick masonry work done, you’re going to see workmen on the roof, you’re going to see scaffolding go up," said Julian Charity, assistant director of recreation at Henrico County Recreation and Parks. Four hundred years ago, Pocahontas and John Rolfe lived on the plantation, which was also home to the first location of the Henrico County Government. Varina on the James. (Courtesy of Henrico County Government) “This kind of checks the box of every era of Henrico County’s history — I love to call it Henrico’s front door..." Charity said. "There’s one thing to look at history, it’s another thing to visit it, but it’s another thing to live it and have it amongst you every day." The 200-year-old house has been through a lot over the years. Two tornadoes ripped its roof off, and three cannonballs are embedded in the brick from the Civil War. Plans for the interior of the house will be decided next year through a public bid once the exterior work is finished. As for what the space will be used for, ideas from event venue to museum are all on the table. “You’re out here kayaking, or you're out here canoeing, you may be out here on a walking trail, you may be here for an event that’s happening here, and if you can get that little nugget of history to take with you, well, my life and my job have been successful," said Charity. Restoration work is expected to be done by the end of Spring 2027. ...read more read less