Cannongate Farm

6838 E D WA R D S G R O V E R O A D CO L L EG E G ROV E , T N 370 4 6

HISTORIC C A N N O N G AT E FA R M Cannongate Farm is a dream that has been rendered real through the extraordinary dedication and hard work of its talented creators and their hand-picked team of collaborators. The owners’ travels to legendary house museums across the globe, along with their years of study and focused acquisition, has resulted in this unique place.

This is a storied farm, possessing beauty that is both restorative and soul-healing, with interior and agricultural spaces magnificently redefined for living a bountiful life in the 21st century.

Originally owned by the Gillespie family, this Revolutionary War Land Grant farm dates to 1778. Among its notable owners is Henry Cannon, husband of legendary Grand Ole Opry member and beloved country music matriarch, Minnie Pearl. The Cannons used it as a farm and hunting retreat (with numerous celebrity visitors) for decades. The land was then kept intact by other owners until 2013, when it was purchased by the current owners.

Leading a team that included notable Nashville-based architect Van Pond, the family has transformed Cannongate into a luxurious, agrarian retreat from worldly intrusion. Bending Chestnut Construction made real the family’s vision to enhance the original, two-story log cabin and its dependencies into a new version, a world unto itself, with the best of everything. The farm is in much-soughtafter Williamson County, minutes away from one of the country’s most vibrant, exciting metropolitan areas.

AN G IE JE F F E RS O N L ANG F O R D REALTOR® c. 615.305.2510 o. 615.794.0833 angie.langford@zeitlin.com

BRAD L AN G F O R D REALTOR® c. 615.944.4470 o. 615.794.0833 brad.langford@zeitlin.com

ENTRY Entry to the nearly 11,000 square foot main house is through

Utilizing a design favored by many affluent American

a handmade mahogany front door fitted with antique and

homeowners circa 1850, Cannongate is designed with a

custom-made, imported fittings and hardware. Note the

double, center-hall foyer. The rear hallway provides a seamless,

custom-made, white oak pocket doors, historically correct paint

structurally reinforced integration and connection of the

colors, and 10-inch baseboards rendered in mopboard black.

newly constructed, period-correct, Georgian main house with

Beneath your feet are new, hand-picked, tongue and groove ash

the property’s original log house. This is not uncommon to

floors. Illumination is provided by the beautifully proportioned,

Middle Tennessee home design of the period. Families often

symmetrical windows, and the early 1900s chandelier

maintained their antecedents’ humbler log structures, building

suspended beneath a custom-made plaster medallion.

around them, and adding on as their resources grew.

DINING, LIVING & SUN ROOM Here on the beautifully proportioned main floor is

The charming Sunroom features a classically patterned

the Dining Room, complete with pocket doors and

South African marble flooring and beautiful views

a fireplace with fire rock and gas starter. A well-

from each wall of windows. It has its own, separately

proportioned Parlor provides reception space that

controlled HVAC zone to enable open window enjoyment

gracefully leads into the impressive Living Room,

when desired.

which features a mantle and fireplace surround based on one discovered in a historic South Carolina home.

The fireplace is lined with fire rock and has an antique fire back, and here are built-in bookcases, and bench seats with storage.

KITCHENS Cannongate has not one, but two kitchens, one newly constructed, and the other part of the original log home. In the larger, “New Kitchen” is a Waterstone faucet, locally made, custom cabinets, with unlacquered brass hardware, and marble countertops sourced in Vermont. The custom-made lighting highlights the specialorder Bluestar Range with four ovens, Sub Zero refrigerator, Bosch dishwasher, and Pella casement windows with pull-down screens. The range hood is crafted from antique, reclaimed wood that was formerly a floor joist in the original home.

Conveniently adjacent is the “Old Kitchen” reimagined with new accoutrements. Originally housed in a separate building, the Gillespie family was one of the first in Middle Tennessee to incorporate kitchen facilities within living quarters by using a team of oxen to pull the separate outbuilding into place for attachment.

Here are the original 1800’s ash flooring and kitchen window. The cabinetry has been crafted of wood from the original barn by worldrenowned master woodworker. The countertops are wood, milled from indigenous trees. The soapstone sink was made in Vermont, and there is an Asco dishwasher, Waterstone faucet, and a handmade, tin light fixture. The space which once comprised the “dog trot” is now a Walk-In Pantry, replete with a tarnish-resistant silver closet, housekeeping closet, and custom-designed linen storage. Just off this kitchen is the Keeping Room, which also has its original floors.

GENTLEMAN’S BAR OFFICE | LIBRARY Once inside the original dwelling, you’ll come to the

Adjacent is the Library, with another spectacular, hand-

Gentleman’s Bar, with concrete countertops, and shelving

carved, fireplace. The addition of a faux coal basket and gas

hewn from Cannongate barn wood. This space transitions

logs ensures it will remain usable in its original state. The

into the Office, the first room built and completed in 1789.

custom-built shelving originated in Connecticut, and the

It has its own entrance thru a generously proportioned,

faux door is original to the house, as are the windows with

covered porch, and its own dedicated parking, so that it may

key, and the lighting, which has been converted from gas to

be utilized as a working office if desired.

electric.

Even though the Office has the functional ability to operate

Just outside the Library is the rear hallway, where the original

separately, this warm, enveloping space has its original,

portion of the home is connected to the new wing by way of

green poplar floors and a fireplace constructed by one of

an ingeniously designed connector that uses numerous oak

the original farm residents. Now outfitted with gas logs, it is

beams to support the old logs. Here is the Wine Cellar, built

graced by a mantle made of indigenous lumber. Astonishing

so it incorporates the back of a fireplace built by a worker

features include the original windows and glass, front door

during the early years of the farm. Also located here are a

with Ball and Ball hardware, and beams recovered from a

Powder Room, Coat Closet, and a pre-finished elevator shaft,

former cabin on the property. Above the original front door

ready for future use when desired.

is the signature of Jacob Gillespie and 17 carved hash marks, one for each child born in this room.

E N T E R TA I N M E N T W I N G Just off the original kitchen is the sun-filled, brick paved, hallway ramp leading to the Breakfast Room, Main Laundry Room, and a large Entertainment Space occupying the footprint of what was once the Coach House. This spacious and welcoming area could be used in a variety of ways (Billiards? Holiday Dinners?) and features numerous amenities.

As has been the practice throughout the farm, spotting a fixture or design feature seen elsewhere is unlikely. In almost all cases, each design feature has been created by an artisan using materials already at Cannongate, the fixture has been special ordered, or it is one-of-a-kind.

The uniqueness of this Family/Guest Entertainment Wing is highlighted by the charming brick floors, cabinets and backsplash made from original barn wood, imported cabinetry hardware, carved granite sink, ice machine, cigar humidor, and Viking refrigerator. Practical storage includes separate closets for both games and guitars.

The uniqueness of this Family/Guest Entertainment Wing is highlighted by the charming brick floors, cabinets and backsplash made from original barn wood, imported cabinetry hardware, carved granite sink, ice machine, cigar humidor, and Viking refrigerator. Practical storage includes separate closets for both games and guitars.

Just off the main space, the Media Room features a stone fireplace and antique mantle rebuilt from materials repurposed from a former cabin on the property, now fitted with a gas starter. This room features a separate sound system, coordinated with the main area, if desired.

Outside the Coach House is a fully fenced and generously sized stone Patio overlooking a firepit. The surrounding retaining wall was created with stones hand-selected on the property.

Also In this wing are the Main Laundry Room and a smaller Laundry Space for farm or hunting clothes. A thoughtfully designed Locker Room provides individual spaces for clothing and boots. Outside the Coach House is a fully fenced and generously sized stone Patio overlooking a firepit. The surrounding retaining wall was created with stones handselected on the property.

SECOND & THIRD FLOOR A few more steps and here is the Primary Suite, truly

Two more bedrooms are on the second floor. The

palatial in scale, and created to coddle and envelop its

Upstairs Bedroom and Sitting Room are part of the

occupants. Some of the most luxurious details in the

original structure. During the time the original family

home are here for enjoyment within the inner sanctum.

lived here, it is believed the entire family slept in this

Hand-cut architectural moulding, period hardware, and

room! The space has been artfully altered by raising the

a superior, Italian marble fireplace surround command

ceiling to better meet today’s needs. The green poplar

respect.

wood floors remain, and the logs are believed to be 400 years old. The chinking between the logs has been

Rounding the corner into the Bathroom, provides a

conserved and restored by one of the best archeologists

look at even more sumptuous personal space. The

in the Southeast. This room accesses the Upstairs

huge marble shower is ADA compliant, but stealthily so.

Covered Porch, which features handsome copper

There is historic lighting and a linen closet, a luggage

lighting fixtures, and copper gutters and roof. Most of

closet, and separate dressing rooms for each primary

the wood on the porch is from the property.

suite inhabitant. Here, too, are a safe for valuables, and separate cedar closets. This luxurious layout has been

A Third Floor, part of the Georgian main house, is

created by anticipating every self-care need.

currently being used as a work-out room and has wonderful views of the property. On the other side of

One of the dressing areas also provides a separate exit

this hallway is nearly 700 square feet of living space

that opens onto an upstairs vestibule, providing the ability

being used as an attic. It is entirely insulated, heated,

to take one’s leave without awakening a sleeping bedmate.

and cooled, and has already been completed with

In this vestibule are also provisions for future elevator

drywall and flooring, and awaits conversion if needed or

service, if desired.

desired. Perhaps as a teen suite?

T H E FA R M Like many farms, Cannongate has numerous

There are three stainless steel wells for use with the

outbuildings or “dependencies,” but few farms this

ponds, pastures, orchard, chicken area, and the large

old maintain such an impressive array of these vital

barn, and the original pump house is still in use. There

structures. Here are, most notably: a 56x91 Multi-

are four springs and two spring-fed and fully stocked

Use Barn, with second floor storage with fan and

ponds.

functioning doors, Tack Room, Tool Room, Horse Wash Bay, space ready for three large, or four small, Equine

Cannongate Farm is abundantly planted with useful

Stalls. There is also a Barn Kitchen.

and appealing plants. Mature black walnut trees, persimmon trees, and wild blackberry bushes dot

The heritage outbuildings (dating from the early to

the landscape, and an orchard with semi-dwarf trees

mid-1800s, partially restored and some are termite

provides pears, apples, crabapples, plums, and figs. In

protected) include: the Mule Barn, Tobacco Barn, Seed

addition, the diversity of the wildlife adds to the rich

Barn, and the Smoke House, which has been restored

life outdoors to be experienced. The farm is home to

and relocated. A custom Chicken House (referred to as

numerous animals, including deer, turkeys, and foxes.

the Taj MaHEN) is currently occupied by chickens that

The vistas here are truly magnificent. The ridge behind

provide 2-3 dozen organic eggs daily. Inside the fenced

the main house is nearly 1,400 above sea level and is

chicken run is a Goat Shed.

the highest peak between the farm and the Alabama state line. On a clear day, you can see Alabama.

No chemicals have been used on the property by the current owners. It is believed this practice dates back

This luxurious paradise is secluded and private,

to 1940, possibly longer. The farm could, through the

yet essential shopping needs are quickly fulfilled at

proper channels, be certified organic. The biosphere

shops in nearby Chapel Hill, Tennessee, less than 10

at Cannongate Farm has received as much thoughtful

miles away. And in keeping with providing the best of

planning as the structures themselves. These nearly 110

everything, the property has fiber optic internet service,

acres of quintessential Middle Tennessee farmland are

a security system with five cameras, and the ability to

more beautiful today than they were nearly 250 years

add five more. In addition, the farm has natural gas, city

ago when the Gillespie family took possession of them.

water, and weekly trash pickup.

There are five pastures, with 45 acres fenced and cross fenced, with room to add approximately 40 more acres of pastures. The property is well-suited for equestrian pursuits, with great horse trails.