Brick House Tavern Architectural Report, Block 10 Building 10BOriginally entitled: "Architectural Report Brick House Tavern Outbuildings
Block 10, Col. Lot No. 19, Area B"
Colonial Williamsburg Foundation Library Research Report Series - 1209
Colonial Williamsburg Foundation Library
Williamsburg, Virginia
1990
ARCHITECTURAL REPORT
Brick House Tavern
OUTBUILDINGSBlock 10, Col. Lot No. 19. Area B
ARCHITECTURAL REPORT
Brick House Tavern
OUTBUILDINGS
Block 10, Col. Lot No. 19. Area B
These outbuildings were reconstructed on the Brick House Tavern lot, situated on Duke of Gloucester and Botetourt Streets, from drawings prepared by the Department of Architecture of Colonial Williamsburg, Inc., in consultation with Perry, Shaw and Hepburn, architects.
Reconstruction between December 30, 1938 and December 30, 1939
A. E. Kendrew, and
Singleton P. Moorehead,
Resident Architects.
John Henderson was in charge of the preparation of drawings for Dr. Carter's Shop.
This report was prepared by A. Lawrence Kocher and Howard Dearstyne for the Department of Architecture, Colonial Williamsburg.
January 14, 1949
Brick House Tavern Outbuildings
The reader of this report is referred to the Chronology of house and lot ownership--Brick House Tavern, Block 10. The York County Deed house plan, 1764, referred to therein, was useful in determining the location of Dr. Carter's Shop. This plan was also followed in developing the window and door location and interior arrangement.
The sources of information on the Brick House Tavern, listed with the architectural report on that building, also served as a planning guide for outbuildings. The landscape plan should be consulted for treatment of lot with parking area, new location of privies, and fences.
BRICK HOUSE TAVERN AND OUTBUILDINGS
Block 10, Colonial Lot #19
Three outbuildings have been reconstructed on William Carter's northern portion of Colonial Lot #19 (Corner of Botetourt and Duke of Gloucester Streets), viz., Dr. Carter's shop and two privies. The outbuilding designated "WC House" on the sketch plan accompanying William Carter's deed of 1764 to Hugh Walker (see Architectural Report on the Brick House Tavern and the Research Report of Feb. 23, 1938) was not reconstructed; no archaeological evidence of this building was found and no clue to its nature. It may possibly have served as a kitchen for the slave hands employed at the Brick House Tavern.
There was no archaeological or other evidence for the privies but these were nevertheless included in the plot plan as a customary adjunct of an 18th century establishment. These privies, one on the east and one on the west lot line were erected originally about 30 feet back of the rear wall of Dr. Carter's Shop (see progress photo, N 6128). Subsequently, in the course of converting the back part of the Carter Property into a parking 3 lot for use in connection with the Brick House Tavern, these were moved to the rear of the lot and placed in their same relative positions on the east and west lot lines.
The reconstruction of Dr. Carter's Shop in the almost total absence of archaeological remains (a fragment only of a brick wall was found on the site) is based almost exclusively on information derived from Dr. Carter's sketch plan, and certain documentary evidence. Behind the Brick House, on his plan, and separated from it by a passage possibly 6 to 8 feet wide, Carter shows the plan of a wooden house. This house has on the east side a main room occupying something more than half the house area, and adjoining it on the west, two equal smaller rooms. The building is designated as "WC Storage Shed." We know from records that this building was either rented or sold to various persons during the 18th century. In a rental "ad" in the Virginia Gazette (1772) it is called "the Wooden Store," and in 1776 William Cosby and Filmer Moore announce in the Gazette their intention of carrying on in a shop at the rear of the Brick House Tavern (presumably Dr. Carter's Shop) "the RIDING-CHAIR MAKER'S business, in all its branches."
This area of the lot back of the Brick House Tavern and west of the Shop was, on Carter's plan, divided into a "back yard to be common to all the Purchasers and Present Owners," and, adjoining the west side of the Shop, "a little back yard for H. W." (Hugh Walker, who occupied the apartment of the Tavern immediately adjoining the yard on the north). A passage 8 feet wide between wooden fences gave access from Botetourt 4 Street to the common back yard. The use to which these yards were put in colonial times is nowhere indicated in the records, and no archaeological evidence was found to indicate whether or not they were paved or partly paved.
We have little or no evidence to indicate what purpose the area between the south fence of the above-described passage and the south end of the lot (now terminated by a brick wall separating the Carter and Barraud properties) served. It may have been a paddock, although the only indication we have that stables may have existed there is found in a Gazette advertisement of Richard Davis (1771), who was then operating the Brick House as a lodging-house, that "our stables are new done up and properly divided, with great additions; that a very large pasture, remarkable for good grass and water, adjoining the town, and intirely new fences in this spring, is engaged for Gentlemen's horses." We cannot be certain that the stables mentioned in the "ad" were on lot 19, but to have placed them there for the convenience of the Tavern guests would seem reasonable. This area, as has been stated above, is now a parking lot used in conjunction with the Brick House Tavern.
ARCHITECTURAL REPORT
January 14, 1949
Reconstruction started Dec. 30, 1938
Reconstruction completed Dec. 30, 1939
Brick House Tavern
OUTBUILDINGS
| Block No. 10 | Colonial Lot No. 19 | Building 10 C |
EXTERIOR
PLAN TYPE
The plan of Dr. Carter's Shop indicated in the drawing included in the deed of 1764 showed a large room with a fireplace in the center of the south end. There were two additional rooms of nearly equal size toward the west. It was assumed that the fireplace shown in the Carter Plan was at the center of the gable end of the shop and the building was so reconstructed.
The shop is an exterior reconstruction. The Carter plan was modified so as to provide a large living room and a bedroom and bath on the ground floor together with a staircase to the floor above. The position of the partitions was therefore changed is a second bed room and bath, together with closets, on the second floor.
The reconstructed shop is 20'-7" by 27'-7".
GENERAL APPEARANCE OF HOUSE
It is the familiar Williamsburg outbuilding with an A-roof, but with attributes which suggest an early date, one of which is the large T-shaped chimney. The modillion cornice appears to have been a feature of many early buildings. The house is designed with a fairly steep roof (490), also a feature of the first quarter of the century. It has a pair of slender, 2-light wide dormers at the east and west, and a 4-light casement window on the south elevation. These early attributes are additions made by the Restoration since there was no evidence for them in the records. These features do, however, represent building practice of the time of the original construction of the house.
Thus the elevations of the building were assumptions, except that a basis for the windows and door of the main elevation on Botetourt Street was found in the Carter plan of 1764. The plan indicates a central doorway flanked on either side by a window. Other windows were located where they contributed to the exterior design in a manner which followed closely design practices of the 18th Century.
ROOF TYPE
As noted above the house has an A-roof. This roof changes its pitch on the west side to form a lean-to, suggesting that an addition was made at some period. This rear extension is further acknowledged in a 2" corner bead, embedded flush in the weatherboarding. The basis for such an embedded corner board is a similar feature on the enlarged Travis House, the Market Square Tavern and the Timson House.
BRICKWORK
- I.Foundations
A fragment only of the old foundation was found by excavation. This was not large enough to reveal the shape of the house.
The reconstructed foundation is of brick, with approximately 6 courses revealed above the grade line. All foundation brick was laid in Flemish bond, a departure from the normal practice of laying foundations in English bond.
- II.Chimney
Design authorization for the chimney at the south end is derived from the deed drawing of 1764 rather than from the meager architectural fragments found on the site. It is believed that this chimney was of the kitchen type with a spacious fire opening. In the reconstruction a smaller fireplace replaced the larger one, as has been the customary practice in kitchen reconstructions. Externally, however, the chimney has a wide base that steps back gradually to its final upper shaft. Because of the early period of the building and as an accompaniment to the chimneys of the main house this chimney is also built in a T-shape. The treatment of the chimney top resembles that of the chimneys of the Tavern except that there is no projecting necking.
- III.Brick gutters
There is a brick gutter similar in design to that of the Tavern along the base of the west elevation. This gutter pitches toward a drain at the north end. The east elevation of the house toward Botetourt Street has an 8" brick paving to receive the rain drip from the roof. The details of the brick gutters are shown on Sheet #1, Dr. Carter's Shop.
- IV.Brick hearths
The first floor fireplace and the bricked-in fireplace of the second floor have similar hearths. Both of these hearths are laid with sand joints and project 13" from the face of the fireplace wall.
EXTERIOR WALLS
The exterior walls are faced with beaded-edged weatherboarding having a 6" exposure. Details of this may be seen on detail sheet #204.
EXTERIOR TRIM
Main Cornice
This is a version of the modillion cornice of the Brick House Tavern reduced in scale. It is like the cornice of the Bassett Hall Smoke house and also like that of the Kitchen outbuilding at Tettington and of Wales, near Petersburg (Dinwiddie County).
Barge Boards
The barge boards have a more distinct taper than the barge boards of the house. Their width varies from 3 ¾" near the comb of the roof to a width of 4 5/8" near the cornice.
End Boards
The cornice end boards do not conceal the entire cornice but cover only the triangle above the modillions leaving the latter exposed. See detail sheet #200. The precedent for this treatment are the end boards of Montpelier, Surry County.
DORMERS
The dormers including the rake boards and two-light-high and four-light-wide windows are patterned after those of Casey's Gift Shop.
STEPS
There are steps only on the east elevation. These Lane plain plank stringers with beaded edges and two treads open beneath.
BULKHEADS
There are no bulkheads since the building has no cellar.
WINDOWS
First Floor
The windows of the east and north elevations are three-lights wide by six high. These are similar in type to the first floor windows of the John Blair House and Carter's Grove, except that the latter are in a brick building. The windows of the south and west elevations are three-lights wide and five high. The precedent for these windows are the second story windows of the St. George Tucker House.
Dormer and Gable Windows
The dormer windows, as stated above, are two-lights wide and four high. A window in the gable of the north elevation is similar in size. The precedent for this gable window is a window in the gable of the Moody House.
There is a four-light casement window in the gable of the south elevation. The precedent for this is a window in the gable of the John Blair House.
The glass panes of all the windows are 8" x 10" in size except for the eighteen-light windows of the north and east elevations which have panes 9" x 11" in size.
SHUTTERS
All shutters are reproductions and common pre-Revolutionary practice was followed. The shutters of the windows of the main part of the building (east and north elevations) are solid 3-panel shutters, following the practice for lower-story shutters of the mid-18th century (see detail sheet #201.)
As a device for indicating that the lean-to may have been a later addition the shutters of the lean-to windows are of the fixed-slat type. This type of shutter is thought to be later than the paneled type.
EXTERIOR DOOR
There is one exterior door resembling the front door of the Lightfoot House except that there is no transom.
WINDOW & DOOR TRIM
All windows have single-molded trim throughout. The door trim is double-molded. The profile is typical of that used in 18th century houses found in Williamsburg.
INTERIOR
GENERAL NOTES
As was said previously the interior is a partial restoration only in which the original Carter plan has been modified to suit modern convenience.
FLOORS
These are a reproduction of the wide board type of pine flooring of the 18th century. There is an under flooring of standard sheathing boards for increased dryness since there is no basement under the shop.
STAIRCASE
This is similar to the staircase of the Tucker Laundry in Block 29, not alone in its general arrangement but also in its handrail. There is also a point of similarity with the railing of the stairway of York Hall at Yorktown, namely, the plank rail in place of balusters. In this case, however, the stairway is in a cramped position with the railing close to the wall. At the landing is an unusual double post similar to one at the Goal.
There is an arch over the steps as one mounts the stairs. The purpose of the arch is to increase headroom and to relieve the simplicity of a straight beam. A similar segmental arch is found in the Quarter.
CHIMNEY PIECE
The first floor mantel (see detail sheet #101) was based on a mantel in the stock pile of wood mantel details in the warehouse, Colonial Williamsburg. It has an arched fireplace opening with a plaster surround.
The second floor fireplace has been bricked in and plastered over, and has no mantel.
For the brick hearths, see Brickwork.
WALLS
The interior walls are plastered to resemble the plastering of pre-Revolutionary days. There is no paneling, cornices or chair-railing. There is, however, a 4" x 8" cased beam spanning the stairwell opening. The baseboard is 4&" high with a beaded top edge.
INTERIOR DOORS
The numbers denoting the doors are those used in the plan drawing No. 1.
- Door #1, front entrance door: 6-panel door, with unmolded raised paneling on the inside. Thickness, 1 3/8".
- Door #2, living room to first floor bedroom: 6-panel door, molded on living room side, unmolded on bedroom side. Thickness 1 1/8".
- Door #3, living room closet: 3-panel door, same treatment and thickness as door #2.
- Door #4 (closet of first floor bedroom); #5 (first floor bath), and #8 (second floor bath): batten doors with beaded-edged battens.
- Doors #6 (head of stairs) and #7 (closet in second floor hallway): similar in treatment and thickness to doors #2 and #3. Door #7, however, is a two-valve door.
DOOR TRIM
All door trim is of the single-molded type.
HARDWARE SCHEDULE
Door hardware
(For door locations see under Interior Doors)
- Door #1: 10" WI colonial type HL hinges, Reading rim lock.
- Door #2: 8" WI colonial type HL hinges, Reading rim lock, 12 similar to that of door #1.
- Doors #3 and #4: 8" WI colonial type HL hinges, equipped with thumb latch from Craft House.
- Doors #5 and #8: 8" WI colonial type HL hinges, Reading rim lock, nickel-plated.
- Door #6: 10" WI colonial type HL hinges, Reading rim lock.
- Door #7: 7½" WI colonial type HL hinges, 2 pairs.
Shutter Hardware
- 8 pairs 6" WI H hinges, for paneled shutters.
- 6 pairs 8" WI strap pintel hinges for slat shutters.
- 14 shutter holdbacks.
Lighting Fixtures
For the interior reproductions of colonial-type lighting fixtures were selected from the market.
The exterior door light is a tinned-iron lantern, painted. This is supported by a WI bracket.
Painting and Color
All exterior painting, cream white, same as that used for the exterior woodwork of the Tavern.
All interior walls and ceilings finished white, except where otherwise designated.
Interior trim (the following colors, designated by numbers, run from a light buff to a dark tan):
- Living room woodwork, including base board, WII
- First floor bedroom, 8W (not W 8!), yellow satin finish. Baseboard W 15, glossy finish.
- First floor bathroom walls were given a pale tint of yellow, 8W, glossy finish.
- Second floor hallway, same as living room
- Second floor bedroom, woodwork, including base board, W 12. Woodwork, satin finish. Baseboard, glossy finish.
- 13
- Second floor bathroom walls were given a light tint of W 12, glossy finish and the ceiling the faintest possible tint of W 12.
PRIVIES
The two privies, located one at each corner of the south side of the Brick House Tavern lot (north half of Lot No. 19, Block 10.) They are reproductions of typical outbuildings of mid-eighteenth century, utilizing authenticated details for their design elements. Both are 8"-4" square on plan. Their location at the upper limits of a plot suggests their having been placed at one time at the upper limits of a garden. The placing of the privy at the corners of the garden plot occurs frequently with garden arrangements of the time.
Foundation walls are of brick with 5½" of brick facing exposed above the ground level. There is an outside step of old stone at the entrance door. This was gotten from the storage supply of old building materials kept at the warehouse of Colonial Williamsburg.
The Design
The privy design consists of an entrance front with doorway, off center, and a six light (casement) window at the side; a modillion cornice surmounted by a pyramid-shaped roof without finial. All other sides of the structure are without windows or doors, excepting for two access or clean-out doors at rear.
Clapboard siding with ½" beaded edge and of random width is laid flush, as was the siding of Emma Lou Barlow's (Captain Orr's) privy at the rear of lot on the Duke of Gloucester Street.
The Corner Posts that terminate the flush boarding are similar in their dimensions on each of the two faces of the privy corners. They measure 3¼" in each of their exposed sides. This two-way corner post is usual with square outbuildings.
The off-center doorway is six paneled as was the privy at Captain Orr's dwelling. It is also similar, in this respect, to the front of an outbuilding of Bowman's Folly, Accomac County, Virginia. Bowman's Folly also had flush siding and two casement windows instead of one, as appears at the Brick House Tavern example.
The door is 1 3/8" in thickness has raised panels outside, molded and the recessed panel backing within the house.
14The cornice has a modillion treatment as had the shop and the tavern, but reduced in their dimensions. Precedent for such a full molded modillion cornice on garden houses and outbuildings, is fairly frequent. We cite the instance of such a cornice on an outbuilding at Tazewell Hall and on a smoke house of Bassett Hall.
The shingles of asbestos, simulating old wood, are laid with a slope away from the center at each side, in which is termed "fan tail" butts.
Details of the privies at Brick House Tavern are detailed in sheet #100, files of the Department of Architecture, Colonial Williamsburg.
