The Rotherwood
A Private Victorian Estate
Welcome to the Rotherwood- in Winchester, KY
This historic estate was built by Asa Sphar as a gift to his bride Emily French in 1887 - Engaged couples can share and add to the history of the Rotherwood by carrying on the legacy of a house built on love.
Rotherwood Events is located on a historic estate in Winchester, Kentucky, just minutes from Lexington and the I-64 corridor. The property is centered around a late-19th century Victorian home, offering a rare blend of historic architecture and modern event space.
The Rotherwood House: Built in the 1880s
The Rotherwood House originally began construction in 1885 and was completed in 1887 by Asa Rodgers Sphar, as a seed farmer.
Some locals say that Emily Sphar (French) dropped her pearl earring on the grounds while the house was being constructed, and it has never been found.
The Sphar family of Winchester can trace their roots in America back to 1749, when ancestors emigrated from Switzerland.
Architectural Style and Features
Rotherwood is recognized as a brick Victorian estate, often associated with the Queen Anne style common in Kentucky during the late 1800s.
Historic features of the home include:
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Large-scale brick construction ( 3-brick-thick walls)
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High ceilings (approximately 12 feet)
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Original hardwood floors
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9 fireplaces throughout the home
- total of 11 chimneys
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Detailed interior millwork
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Original horsehair plaster
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Expansive porch overlooking Bluegrass farmland
The home has been noted as a Kentucky landmark as a heritage site. The craftsmanship of yesteryear is rarely seen today in modern day built homes.
Tile from fireplace in dressing suite- Young soldier grown into an older soldier- Encaustic mottled Victorian tiles
Original stained glass door with Kokomo glass.
A Bluegrass Estate with Deep Roots
The property was once part of a 750-acre family tract. Today it is almost 26 acres, but still reflects the agricultural foundation of the region.
Like many estates in Central Kentucky, Rotherwood functioned as a gentleman’s farm, supporting crops, livestock, and rural living while overlooking the rolling Bluegrass landscape that defines the area today.
Survey of Historic Sites in Kentucky-Clark County
Sphar & Co. in the Bush Warehouse, 1948 (Sphar family photograph, Bluegrass Heritage Museum)
Visit Rotherwood Events
Rotherwood Events is located at 3565 Paris Road in Winchester, Kentucky, serving couples and guests from Lexington, Richmond, and across Central Kentucky.