James Bowen's photos

"Stonewall" Jackson died in this plantation office.

Jefferson designed this building, as part of his home, himself. I'm note sure about Jefferson. He seems to be a bit too full of his own abilities if I'm honest (plus he's a francophile which puts me off).

Ashlawn-Highlands was owned by James Monroe, America's 5th President. He called it Highlands. It was called Ashlawn by a subsequent owner. The most recent owner merged the two names.

The slaves that came into Fredericksburg were sold from this spot. They would be told to stand on the upper level and auctioned off to the highest bidder. Much of America's treatment of slaves is airbrushed out of American history. Many people owned them but in historic buildings they're described as servants. Incidentally the damage to the auction block is recent. It was attacked last year. No one knows who did it.

James Madison, America's 4th President, owned this house. Don't go and see it for a while though, they're completely renovating it and won't be done till 2009. The Du Ponts (the famous multi-millionaire Du Ponts) owned this place too and it was one of them who gave the building to charity

George Washington's home.

I was walking between the Jefferson and Lincoln Memorials and saw two Indian teams playing a semi-serious (whites pads etc) game of cricket in the park. Despite the seeming lack of umpire, they did have one!

I was walking between the Jefferson and Lincoln Memorials and saw two Indian teams playing a semi-serious (whites pads etc) game of cricket in the park. It was a shock to see the sport being played here.