The Foundation

The Battersea estate and its 37-acre property were privately owned until 1985. In that year, Battersea was conveyed to the City of Petersburg by Mr. and Mrs. John McLaughlin, Jr. Though there lacked sufficient funding to restore Battersea, Barbara Mosely—a tireless supporter of Battersea—had a vision. Barbara saw Battersea as a place where the community could engage and learn together. Her powerful ideas helped to catalyze the formation of Battersea, Inc., now Battersea Foundation in 2006. In 2011, Battersea Foundation purchased Battersea from the City of Petersburg and has since stabilized both the foundation and the exterior of the villa, including the greenhouse. As an organization, we are excited to move forward in our mission to preserve historic Battersea and offer educational, artistic, and cultural experiences that inform, enrich, and inspire the public.