About Us

This Queen-Anne Victorian home was built in 1895 for Benjamin William Angle, his wife Julia Chapman Angle, and their five children – Esther, Louise, Arthur, Joseph, and Benjamin. Julia lived in this home until her death in 1952. The home has seen multiple evolutions from use as a single-family home, apartments, and bed and breakfast with over 125 years of history. After a significant rear addition in the 1990s, the home now has eight bedrooms, with eight bathrooms and over 5000 square feet of living space. It is locally known as the Claiborne House because of its prominence atop the highest point of Claiborne Avenue. It was renamed The Claiborne Bed and Breakfast in 2023. The Claiborne’s 130-ft wraparound porch provides a beautiful vantage point to enjoy a glass of wine, a rocking chair, and a view of Downtown Rocky Mount and surrounding mountain ranges.

When I found The Claiborne, little did I know that I had also found familial roots. It was after I purchased the house in June 2023 that I learned that Rocky Mount was full of Altices, my surname and a family tree I know very little about. Ironically, the cemetery directly behind The Claiborne is the final resting spot for 17 Altices. After some genealogy searching, I learned that my father’s family had in fact descended from Franklin County within and around the town of Rocky Mount. Additionally, my mother’s family (the Youngs and Cassells) had also hailed from Franklin County and the nearby towns of Gretna and Floyd. It feels like I have returned to my ancestors’ stomping grounds.

Owning a bed and breakfast has been a dream of mine for decades, but the circumstances were never quite right until now. Professionally, I have been an Instructional Designer and Project Manager for over twenty years. I’m currently completing my PhD in Education in Workforce Development at Old Dominion University. The COVID Pandemic made both endeavors go virtual. As a single mom of one, my son’s departure to the join the Navy left me with a truly empty nest.

And so, the timing and circumstances became right to start a new adventure… and the ghosts of ancestors past have called me back to call Rocky Mount home.

Experience the charm of a classic bed and breakfast, where you'll enjoy warm hospitality and a true home-away-from-home atmosphere. Unlike an AirBnB model, our traditional B&B offers a personal touch with shared guest spaces and a communal breakfast served by the Innkeeper, allowing you to connect with fellow guests. The Innkeeper lives on-site and is available to help with questions about the area and recommendations for restaurants. Relax, unwind, and enjoy the unique comfort of staying in a historic home with a welcoming and comfortable vibe.