Built in 1841 and first called Cottage Hill, the house was renamed Derwent in 1859. Robert E. Lee lived here during the summer of 1865 with Mrs. Lee, his son Custis, and his daughters Agnes and Mildred as guests of Mrs. E.R. Cocke. From this house he encouraged fellow Southerners to unite in honest efforts to obliterate the effects of war and restore the blessings of peace, to take such work as they could find, to participate in elections, and to labor without needless repining for the rebuilding of their wasted land. In August he was offered the presidency of Washington College, and on September 15th he left Derwent for Lexington. His family followed in early December.