In 1665 Ward acquired 1,337 acres on the south bank of the James River just downstream from the mouth of Falling Creek known as "Sheffields Plantation" that had been patented by his father-in-law, Blackman, in 1646.

[8] The fort along with ships sunk in the river channel below Drewry's bluff to create obstructions were intended to prevent Union gunboats from reaching the Confederate Capitol, Richmond.

On May 15, 1862, in the Battle of Drewry's Bluff the guns of Fort Darling successfully held off an attempt by the Union warships Monitor and Galena to steam upriver to Richmond and later, repelled an attack by land.

Beauregard made the site his headquarters and met with General Braxton Bragg and Confederate President Jefferson Davis in the manor house to discuss plans for halting the Union Army's advance on Richmond.

To restore the productivity of the depleted soil, Bellwood introduced crop rotation, used mulching and natural fertilizers and installed miles of drainage tiles and levees transforming the worn out farm into one of Virginia's chief agricultural showplaces of the early 20th century.

In 1941, 631 acres of the Bellwood property including the manor house, a large dairy barn and several outbuildings were acquired from his heirs by the U.S. Government to construct the Richmond Quartermaster Depot.

A long, one-story wing spanning the width of the house was added to the rear of the structure in modern times to accommodate a ballroom and the club's service areas.

The renovation work overseen by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was done in accordance with plans and drawings approved by the Virginia State Historic Preservation Office, and included some structural repairs, as well as interior and exterior restoration.