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Nancy Bedford and a New Museum in Middleburg
Nancy Bedford and a New Museum in Middleburg
By Catherine Parris Kerkam
Nancy Bedford has been involved with the Museum of Hounds & Hunting North America (MHHNA) since its founding in 1985. She’s now the board chair, and the museum at Morven Park is expanding to include the historic Duffy House in Middleburg.
A long-time Middleburg area resident, Nancy has always had a passion for horses, equestrian sports, history, and tradition, and she’s tireless in her desire to promote the museum’s mission and reach.
“We’re excited to expand the museum to Middleburg and its opening is scheduled for March 1st,” Nancy said. “Our goal is to educate people about the history of foxhunting as part of North America’s cultural heritage and the importance of land conservation. This historic, centrally located location will also allow us to have a retail component and offer events to engage people.”
As a member of the Gerry family, Nancy was raised with horses and explored Old Westbury, Long Island, on horseback with her best friend, Mimi Abel-Smith. She graduated from Foxcroft School where she participated in equestrian events and foxhunting. She cherishes memories of Miss Charlotte Noland, founder and head of school, and the Middleburg countryside she saw on horseback. Nancy’s love of hunting and the Piedmont region is an extension of her family’s history in the area. Members of the Harriman and Gerry families came from Orange County in New York and helped establish the Orange County Hunt in The Plains in 1905. Her grandfather, Robert L. Gerry, was Master of Orange County Hunt shortly thereafter.
Later in life, while married to Bryan M. Benitz, Nancy lived north of Toronto, where she owned and managed several farms. She and her children, Cynthia and Bryan, hunted with the Toronto North York Hunt. She had a herd of Hereford cattle, and bred Welsh ponies, thoroughbreds, sheep, and Jack Russell Terriers. For several years, she ran a girls’ show pony camp.
According to Cynthia and Bryan, their adventures were many: foxhunting, showing ponies, playing Cowboys and Indians on horseback, swimming with ponies in their pond, and more.
Nancy has always had an eye for beauty in horses. She imported Welsh A and B ponies from England to Canada and bred larger ponies for children to hunt and show. Her ponies had excellent blood lines that were sought after throughout North America. Those blood lines from her Findeln Stud are still in existence; some ponies can still be found in the Piedmont region and have been super mounts in various hunts.
Fast forward, to her return to the Middleburg area. When she and the late Erskine Bedford were 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.
