Nancy Bedford and a New Museum in Middleburg is an extension of her family’s history in the area. Members of the ancy Bedford has been Harriman and Gerry families came involved with the Museum from Orange County in New York of Hounds & Hunting and helped establish the Orange North America (MHHNA) County Hunt in The Plains in 1905. since its founding in 1985. She’s now the Her grandfather, Robert L. Gerry, board chair, and the museum at Morven was Master of Orange County Hunt Park is expanding to include the historic shortly thereafter. Duffy House in Middleburg. Later in life, while married to A long-time Middleburg area Bryan M. Benitz, Nancy lived north resident, Nancy has always had a of Toronto, where she owned and passion for horses, equestrian sports, managed several farms. She and her history, and tradition, and she’s children, Cynthia and Bryan, hunted tireless in her desire to promote the with the Toronto North York Hunt. Nancy Bedford museum’s mission and reach. She had a herd of Hereford cattle, and “We’re excited to expand the museum to bred Welsh ponies, thoroughbreds, sheep, and Jack Middleburg and its opening is scheduled for March Russell Terriers. For several years, she ran a girls’ 1st,” Nancy said. “Our goal is to educate people show pony camp. about the history of foxhunting as part of North According to Cynthia and Bryan, their adventures America’s cultural heritage and the importance of were many: foxhunting, showing ponies, playing land conservation. This historic, centrally located Cowboys and Indians on horseback, swimming with location will also allow us to have a retail component ponies in their pond, and more. and offer events to engage people.” Nancy has always had an eye for beauty in horses. As a member of the Gerry family, Nancy was She imported Welsh A and B ponies from England to raised with horses and explored Old Westbury, Canada and bred larger ponies for children to hunt and Long Island, on horseback with her best friend, show. Her ponies had excellent blood lines that were Mimi Abel-Smith. She graduated from Foxcroft sought after throughout North America. Those blood School where she participated in equestrian events lines from her Findeln Stud are still in existence; and foxhunting. She cherishes memories of Miss some ponies can still be found in the Piedmont region Charlotte Noland, founder and head of school, and and have been super mounts in various hunts. the Middleburg countryside she saw on horseback. Fast forward, to her return to the Middleburg Nancy’s love of hunting and the Piedmont region area. When she and the late Erskine Bedford were By Catherine Parris Kerkam
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introduced by Mimi Abel-Smith, it was love at first sight and they were married at Confederate Hall. With her love of historic homes and design, she whipped Old Welbourne farm into shape. She also embraced her four new stepchildren: Muffy, Daphne, Dean and Cricket. Today, they love her for it. Nancy was thrilled to be back in Virginia hunt country where she reconnected with cherished friends, hosted hunt breakfasts at Old Welbourne, and supported the traditional way of hunt country life. Like her grandparents, her equestrian passions found an outlet in carriage driving. She drove and competed with both pairs and 4-in-hand Welsh ponies. She’s enamored with the discipline of the sport and tradition of dress, all harkening back to her grandparents, including her grandmother, Cornelia Harriman, who drove a 4-in-hand in New York City. Nancy is a founder and past chairman of the Piedmont Driving Club. Today, her lovely old carriage lanterns and harness grace the walls of her log dining room. In 1985, Erskine L. Bedford, Field Master of the Piedmont Hunt, Dr. Joseph M. Rodgers, Master of Loudoun Fairfax Hunt, and Arthur McCashin founded the MHHNA, recognizing the need to preserve the history and culture of foxhunting and land conservation in hunt country. The museum continues to have a beautiful home at Morven Park and now also in Middleburg honoring the legacy of its founders. Nancy continues to promote the museum’s art and artifacts reflective of the traditions of hunting-to-hounds.
MIDDLEBURG SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE| Winter 2024
