Essex Inn
Welcome to The Essex Inn! We are the only luxury accommodations in Tappahannock/Warsaw. Conveniently located in the downtown historic area one block from the river, guests can walk to restaurants, antique and gift shops, and of course, the 'Rivah.
Those coming to the area for business can often walk to their appointments, or find that they have a quick five-minute drive to their meetings. And of course, with St. Margaret's Girls School across the street, parents find the location ideal.
Tappahannock itself dates back to the 1600s, so is almost as old as Jamestown. The town features many of its original buildings, one dating all the way back to 1680! Tappahannock is also perfectly situated for touring the Northern Neck and the Middle Peninsula. Washington, DC, and Virginia Beach are just two hours away and Fredericksburg, Richmond and Yorktown are just an hour. And of course Jamestown and Williamsburg can be reached in just over an hour. We really are right in the middle of the Virginia's Chesapeake Bay Historic Triangle!
The Roane-Wright-Trible House, as the Inn is also known, is a Georgian mansion built about 1850 by Dr. Lawrence Roane and is an excellent example of Greek revival architecture. It has a long and varied history and is even said to have played several interesting roles in the Civil War. Currently, a Tappahannock native who was actually born in the house (when it was home to a doctor who had his practice in the basement) owns the house.
Upon entering this grand house, you will immediately be amazed by the grand proportions and Old World elegance. Each room features 20-foot ceilings, 3 over 4 windows with the original glass, and the original wide plank floors. On the main floor every room features a unique chandelier, some original to the house, some acquired during the renovation, each with a unique history of its own. There are two common rooms, a screened porch, a courtyard and everyone’s favorite, the Butler’s Pantry offering beer, wine, popcorn, assorted beverages and snacks.
The Inn consists of two buildings each with its own character, while the main house offers large, expansive rooms, the "Quarters" offer privacy and the feel of "one’s own little condo."
The four bedrooms in the Main House all feature four-posted beds (some queen, some king) custom made from wood salvaged from piers made of 300-year-old Cypress trees and have their own private en-suite bathrooms, working gas fireplaces, cable TV and their own individual temperature control. While providing luxury accommodations, we’ve also included all the amenities of home.
The "Quarters" is a separate building that was once the servants' quarters. It features 4 suites that can sleep up to 3 guests each. Each suite has a living room, bedroom, full kitchen, and bathroom. Three of the suites have gas fireplaces and one has its own patio.
At the Essex Inn we enjoy our food, from the gourmet three-course breakfast that we serve each morning to the homemade Christmas cookies that we bake each year to the three course dinners we offer in the winter and for
special occasions.
Speaking of special occasions, the Inn is available for all sorts of occasions from cocktail parties, indoor and outdoor weddings, business meetings and corporate retreats, even Red Hat Society luncheons!
Professional innkeepers Reeves and Melodie Pogue began operating the inn for the current owner in 2005. Along with Irene, their head of housekeeping, they bring 27 combined years of working with different New England and Virginia bed-and-breakfasts and inns. As full-time professional innkeepers, they have proven their dedication to serving each guests’ needs and to making each guest feel at home. The awards bestowed upon the inn since their arrival and the many happy returning guests are evidence of their success. Reeves’ interests are history, especially the Civil War, welding, recycling and cooking. Reeve’s goal for retirement is to get paid for reading civil war books. Melodie’s interests are antiques, literature, cinema and shoes. Melodie’s goal for retirement is to become a waitress on a Caribbean island and live on a very small boat with only one bed, one toilet, 4 cats and 500 pairs of shoes.
Both are avid cat lovers and, if asked politely, might let a lucky guest share one of their cats for the evening!
Two things that are especially important to us (other than cats) are good food and doing our share to protect the earth’s resources. Melodie has published one cookbook (which is now out of print) and is working on a second edition. (See our recipes). Reeves is very proud of his new composter, which consumes over 1.5 tons of kitchen waste per year and his recycling statistics. We are both very happy to be one of the first bed and breakfasts recognized by Virginia Green Lodging Program!