Colonial Williamsburg Digital Library

In 1936 a modern story and half "L"-shaped building in the southwest corner of Block 10 was razed. The southern portion of this building rested on a 36'-4" x 20'-4" brick foundation with a 13" wall which was of earlier construction. There were two outside brick chimneys, one on the west end of the building and one on the east end. The west chimney was of modern construction while the period of brickwork in the east chimney was colonial or early nineteenth century. The base of the east chimney bonded with the foundation of the building which was also determined to be colonial.

A basement with early brick paving was found under the eastern portion of the house with an outside entrance from the east, just north of the chimney. The basement did not extend under the west end of the original building which area was found to be unexcavated.

Originally the basement had four window openings, two on the south side and two on the north. These appear to have been closed or bricked up at some early date, probably when the use of the basement was discontinued.

A small brick box drain ran from the northeast corner of the basement towards a slight valley to the northeast. This was evidently put in about the same time the windows were bricked up for the purpose of draining off water from under the house. It may be noted that the steps were practically demolished in order to connect the drain to the house.

See photographs N-5461 and N-5489.

The outbuilding foundations B, C, and D, located east and northeast of the Shewmake House are described in Archaeological Report -Block 10, Area G.

Photograph N 5461
See Foundations C & B - Archaeological Report - Block 10, Area G

Photograph N 5489

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