Ayrshire: A Home and Heritage That Spans Generations
The Ayers Family's Enduring Mark on Sedgefield
The Ayers family—Elsa, Elizabeth, Smedes, and Jere—gathered with Richard, Nate, Lise Conner, and Betty Ayers Hicks.
Nestled in Sedgefield, Ayrshire is a stunning Tudor Revival estate that has been home to the Ayers family for nearly a century. Built in 1935 by Nathan and Nell Ayers, this home is more than just a residence—it’s a legacy, woven into the fabric of the community.
During the Great Depression, Nathan Ayers married Nell Adams, daughter of hosiery magnate J. Hampton Adams. Despite the economic downturn, the couple was well-positioned financially, thanks to the thriving textile industry. They envisioned a home that captured the elegance and grandeur of European estates they admired during their travels. Architect Sanford Ayers brought this vision to life, designing a 10,000-square-foot masterpiece on a sprawling 10-acre lot in Sedgefield.
Nell Ayers had a penchant for the aged beauty of old-world homes. Her father’s purchase of an 18th-century grist mill in Red Cross, North Carolina, provided the beams and bricks that would form the backbone of Ayrshire.
Nathan and Nell's son, Jere, and wife Elsa, carried forward the family tradition, preserving the home’s historic character while raising their daughters, Elizabeth and Smedes, within its storied walls.
Stroll Sedgefield reached out to Smedes Ayers Lindner to learn more about her childhood home and her family’s memories of Sedgefield.
How long has your family lived Sedgefield?
Smedes: My family moved to Sedgefield when it was first developed. My great grandparents, Hamp and Elizabeth Adams, built their home in Sedgefield in 1931. Both my grandmother, Nell Adams, and her sister Elizabeth Adams, built homes of their own in Sedgefield once they married. Nell Adams and her husband Nathan built their home in 1935 on Rockingham Road and raised my father Jere and his sister Betty. My parents, Jere and Elsa, moved into the same home after Nell died in 1967. My Dad has lived in the same home his entire life.
Please share a bit about your family’s connection to the neighborhood.
Jere: After WWII, when we moved back from Washington DC (my father was stationed in DC during the war), 36 people lived in Sedgefield. All the roads were mainly dirt. There were dedicated bridle trails around the golf course for horseback riding.
How has the area changed since you first became a resident?
Smedes: Sedgefield was in the country when it was developed. I have photos of my grandfather riding horses on Sedgefield Country Club’s golf course. Sedgefield was both a country club and an Inn. There were woods and fields where Sedgefield VI, XI, and Grandover are now. The closest grocery store was Bestway on the corner of High Point Road and Groometown. There was a filling station where Adams Farm Shopping Center is now..
What are some of your fondest memories from living in the neighborhood?
Smedes: I loved the freedom of growing up in Sedgefield. There were so many things to do as a kid. There were the typical activities at the pool and tennis courts, but we spent a lot of time exploring. We would ride bikes or play in the woods looking for the abandoned gold mines. I also have many great memories of the Sedgefield Inn and getting Shirley Temples from Baxter in the Red Fox Room.
Can you describe any significant events or milestones in the neighborhood’s history you’ve witnessed?
Jere: Ed Thrower was President of Sedgefield Country Club when the membership bought the Sedgefield Inn and converted it to a Country Club. The rooms were converted to locker rooms and the card room. He also remembers when the pool house, pool, and tennis courts were built. Cobweb Corner used to be the golf shop under Joe Zarhardt.
Share a “Then & Now” comparison of a specific location in the neighborhood.
Jere: Lester and Osborn filling station (Lester’s) was on High Point Road where Adams Farm Shopping Center is now. Wadell’s was the restaurant where McDonald’s is now. There was an oyster bar beside Wadell’s. Byerly’s Antiques was in a two-story house where Bee Safe Storage is now.
Can you recall any events that were prominent in the earlier years?
Smedes: The GGO (Greater Greensboro Open) was the event! My parent’s party was from noon to 3 on Saturday. Flip Wilson, Glenn Campbell, and Chet Atkins were the famous attendees, but the local crowd had the most fun.
Jere: Every year, the blessing of the hounds took place in front of the Sedgefield Inn. All the horses and hounds would gather in the circle for the blessing and then ride to Adams Farm for the hunt. The hunt breakfast would take place on Thanksgiving morning at the Embassy Club. Nathan was Master of the Hunt.
Describe how Sedgefield today compares to the past.
Elsa:Sedgefield used to be quiet and away from the city. Everyone knew everyone else.
Ayrshire is more than a house; it is a testament to the legacy of the Ayers family and the rich history of Sedgefield. It is a cherished landmark, filled with memories and stories, poised to welcome a new family to continue its tradition of grace and hospitality.