Colonial Williamsburg Foundation Library Research Report Series - 165
Colonial Williamsburg Foundation Library
Williamsburg, Virginia
1990
| TO: | PERRY, SHAW & HEPBURN, ARCHITECTS Williamsburg, Virginia, July 1, 1932 |
| SUBJECT: | REPORT, Notes, References etc., in connection with drawing entitled, "A STUDY OF THE GENERAL LAYOUT OF THE GOVERNOR'S PALACE, BASED ON SYMMETRICALLY LOCATED AXES," Dated, June 25, 1932. |
| SUBMITTED BY: | A. G. Lambert, Architectural Supt. for the Palace. Herbert S. Ragland, In charge of Archaeological Excavations. (The drawings delineated by S. P. Moorehead) |
This study is a suggested reconstruction layout, based on estate planning in vogue and generally used in England during the early 18th century, and strongly indicated by foundation found at the site of the Palace.
According to records, the Royal Governor's Seat, at Williamsburg, was a "magnificent estate, the finest in English American and equalled by few abroad". Therefore, in an attempt to reconstruct the scheme, we may reasonably assume the project to be on of major importance;
Considering the plan as a layout for a colonial family residence and governmental business premises combined, certain foundations unearthed on the Palace grounds, when separated from the maze of old walls and fragments which include remains of many known periods of construction and varied occupancy, reveal a plan remarkably well contrived.
Sir Christopher Wren was generally consulted on all the important buildings erected at the time the Palace was planned, and while responsible for the general schemes and important features, it is not supposed that he designed all the details. His methods of planning, and feeling for symmetry are well known. The great dignity of his designs and the grand effects he obtained by simple means form the distinguishing merits of his work. Therefore, after a careful analysis of the maze of unearthed foundations on the Palace grounds, Palace records and maps, it may not be drawing too greatly on the imagination to attribute the general scheme to Wren.
-3-Note: For reference the axes are designated on the drawing and in this report by letters; the buildings and other features, by numbers.
| 1)2)3) | Buildings proven by foundations and records. |
| 4 | Well, actually found. |
| 5) 6) | Buildings proven by foundations. |
| 7) 8) | Deduced to balance 5 and 6. |
| 9) | Building - Indicated by Simcoe's Map and not altogether contradicted by the Frenchman's Map as the building he shows, is included in North and South leg of this building which located to balance symmetrically with building 63. No actual foundations found but some brick and mortar debris was uncovered and an approximately level layer of oyster shells, where indicated on the plan. The elevation of this layer of oyster shells and the original hard pan is about 2½ feet lower than the elevation of terrace 39, and about 9 feet lower than the finished grade of court 23 on the eastern side of the building. Therefore a building at 9 could have been the kitchen with basement as mentioned in the records, and with grade entrance to basement from terrace # 39. (See detailed drawing attached.) |
| 10) | Deduced to balance with 14. |
| 11) | This wall and entrance deduced to balance symmetrically with wall and entrance 13. Along line of wall 11, excavations -5- disclosed that fill was deeper than 1 fill on either side of the line. |
| 12 | Wall and entrance proved by foundations. |
| 13 | " " " " " " . |
| 14 | Building indicated by foundations and shown on Frenchman's Map. |
| 15 | Building deduced from partial foundations and indicated by Frenchman's, Simcoe's and Rochambeau's Maps. |
| 16) 17) | Conjectural buildings to balance plan. |
| 18 | Well, actually found. |
| 19 | Building indicated by old foundations, but possibly built after destruction of Palace during time buildings 2 and 3 were used as separate residences. Not included in this scheme, as evident symmetrical layout would be destroyed. |
| 20 | South East Court. |
| 21 | Forecourt proved by foundations 1, 2, 3 and 12, Bodleian plate, and all maps. The openings shown in walls at the north side of this forecourt, connecting flanking building and palace, provide convenient circulation between the forecourt and courts 31 and 32, as shown on Jefferson's plan. |
| 22 | South West court. |
| 23 | Building-Evidence and reasons similar to 19. |
| 24 | Ditto |
| 25 | Ditto |
| 26 | Ditto |
| 27 | Ditto |
| 28 | Ditto |
| 29 | Ditto |
| 30 | Ditto |
| 31) 32) | Paved courts indicated by fragments of paving found and Simcoe Map. |
| -6- | |
| 33 | Building deduced by, architects prior to this layout by scaling Frenchman's Map. It is only partially used here for reasons similar to 19. |
| 34 | Existing colonial building. |
| 35 | Ditto |
| 36 | Terrace steps proved by existing foundations. |
| 37 | Arbor deduced from Simcoe Map |
| 38) 39) | Terraces proved by existing foundations. |
| 40) 41) | Gates in proven walls on axis of steps. |
| 42 | Intersection of Axes EE and FF. |
| 43 | Deduced wall and gate. |
| 44 | Deduced Walk. |
| 45 | Intersection of axes AA and FF. |
| 46) 47) | Steps and wall proven by foundations. |
| 49 | Area hear East boundary. |
| 50 | Canal or pond mentioned in colonial records. See Governor's Palace Notes - Research Department. |
| 51 | Existing steps and foundations. |
| 52 | Proven by colonial foundations. |
| 53 | Deduced to form symmetrical layout* |
| 54) 55) | Garden walls proven by foundations. |
| 56 | Center of North Garden. |
| 57 | North West Court proven by foundations of garden wall 54 steps 51 and 52 and foundations of building 62. Also Frenchman's Map. This court was approximately level with terrace 39 or about 5 feet lower than the adjacent gardens. |
| 58 | North East Court - conjectural. |
| 59 | Entrance 16 feet wide proven by foundations. |
| -7- | |
| 60) 61) | Small buildings proven by foundations. |
|---|---|
| 62 | Building North West corner indicated by partial foundations. Frenchman's map shows building in this corner but apparently on the inside instead of outside of foundation wall found. It is placed outside in this scheme as inside location destroys symmetry of layout which in so many instances is evident. No other original foundations were found either inside or outside of those shown. Some debris was found in both locations, perhaps more outside than in. Court 57 was graded to approximate elevation 72.60. The first floor of building 62 was probably at elevation 73.00. Elevations on original grades show that building located as shown could have been easily reached from the north side and that footings there would not have been deep, and that on the west where ground slopes sharply to ravine that footings or piers would have been deeper. The original ground at the south west corner where reading could not be taken because of new planting, was approximately 65.00 and at the north west corner about 59.00. (See detailed archaeological drawings and special drawing attached). |
| 63 | Conjectural building - Not indicated on maps and no foundations found and no records, but shown here to balance layout. |
| 64 | Existing colonial ice house. |
| 65 | Intersection of main axis and axis of ice house. |
| 66 | Road deduced from Frenchman's Map. |
| 67 | Road deduced from Frenchman's Map now Ewell Street. |
| 68 | Road deduced from Frenchman's Map. |
| 69. | Deduced gate on axis E-E. |
| 70 | Scotland Street west side of Palace. |
| 71 | Scotland Street east side of Palace. |
| 72 | Deduced circle and entrance - radius I-I width of forecourt No. 21. (See Tipping's plate.for arrangement of forecourts) |
| 73 | Palace green. |
| 74 | Remains of old brick gutter. |
The distance from gutter 74 to center line is equivalent to distance from center line to west side of building 62, making an overall distance, east and west of 463'-1".
The overall north and south distance from the south wall of building 14, (proved by foundations) to the north line of building 62, is 468'-5".
From these figures it seems that a layout in the form of a square was intentional. As land in the colonial period was measured in poles, it is, interesting to note here that perhaps the sides of the Square were laid out to be 462 feet or 28 poles. This square contains nearly 5 acres. It in of additional interest to note that 28 poles is almost exactly half the distance from the south wall of the layout to the north line of Duke of Gloucester Street, which might appear to confirm the deduction that the layout was in the form of a square.
Allowing for known inaccuracies in the Simcoe and Frenchman's Maps, both indicate evidence of symmetry.
The Simcoe map not only clearly indicates a square but also shows on the south west and south east corners symmetrically arranged L shaped buildings, and court yards. This map antedates the Frenchman's map by at least 5 years, and must have been made while the Palace was still standing, whereas the Frenchman's map was made after the Palace had burned and perhaps other buildings had also been destroyed or changed.
Axis F-F is equidistant from buildings 9 and 62. (See details Archaeological drawings). Buildings 9, 15, 62, and 63 are laid out the width of proven buildings 2 and 3. The length -9- of 2 and 3 is equal to width of main building # 1.
The correctness of the deduction that there was a building on site 9 seems to be confirmed by the fact that the location of buildings 7 and 8, deduced merely to balance proven building 5 and 6, also left a space between 8 and 9, which not only balances with space between building 5 and garden wall 54, but is the proper width for easy circulation, and for the walk indicated by steps 51. This deduction, furthermore, indicates a well balanced arrangement of the subordinate units typically enclosing courtyards and so necessary in producing an orderly plan.
| Page | |
|---|---|
| 3 | referring to money spent - records not complete. |
| 2 | Governor Nicholson directed to consider site and send over draught of house to his majesty and Commissioners etc... |
| 21-22 | House of Burgesses asked Governor for draught of house. ( From these records and character of certain unearthed foundations it may be reasonably assumed that the site was carefully selected and the entire layout intelligently planned.) |
| 28 | House, Kitchen and stable ordered. |
| 31 | Houses for cattle and poultry with yards ordered. Also gardens and walls. |
| 32 | Rev. Hugh Jones description written in 1723. |
| 42 | Stable, coach house, cow house and hen house. |
| 44) 45) | Spotswood - Mathematician etc. |
| 48) 49) | Gardens, courts, house of wood for cattle, one for poultry. |
| 77 | Spotswood in charge of construction - No limit on money to be spent. |
| -10- | |
| 80 | Vista - Jno. Custis letter referring to vista cut by the Governor. Note - This vista was probably on axis AA directly north of the Palace on Custis land adjoining Palace lands. |
| 103 | Hugh Jones description. |
| 172 | Botetourt's description. |
| 197-202 | Outbuildings. Botetourt Inventory. Stable and Coach house (10 horses, 6 vehicles, coachman's room and closet, store room, Granary, Groom's Room & Closet.) Cow House Poultry House Laundry Dairy Small Room adjoining Poultry House Gardiner's Room Servants Hall Outhouses belonging to kitchen, Larder, Smoke house, Scullery, Coal House, Salt house, Charcoal house. Kitchen - Cook's bed chamber, Servant's Hall and Cellar. Wine Store. |
| 264 | Repairs to fodder house and paling around garden - H. Harwood's Accounts. |
| 266 | Covered way Bath House - Garden wall. |
| 273 | Jefferson's Notes. |
"Brittania Illustrata" or Views of several of the Queen's Palaces, as also of the principal seats of the Nobility and Gentry of Great Britain, (copy in blue room of William and Mary College.) Many of these are similar in layout to Palace.
| Photographs - | Book Misc. Tipping's English Houses, Photo. Nos. N 2482, N 2485, N 2486, N 2489, N 2494. Book Blk. 20 - General Palace Misc. Bodleian Plate Photo. N 424. Jefferson Plan Photo. N 1097. -11- Book Blk. 20 - Palace Excavations. All archaeological Photographs, Especially; N 1230 N 2891 N 1231 N 2892 N 1603 N 2893 N 1604 N 2894 N 2767 |
| Books | Georgian England by Richardson - page 36. Note: Symmetry even in this farm layout. |
| Maps | Simcoe's Map of Williamsburg. Frenchman's Map of Williamsburg. Rochambeau's Map of Williamsburg . Palace Layout New Bern, N. C. |
| Drawings | See archaeological drawings of Palace foundations. |
Herbert S. Ragland
A.G. Lambert
HSR/vbl
Book Blk.