Colonial Williamsburg Digital Library

A.

House at southeast corner of plot. Lines of north, east, and south walls are defined, but west wall was entirely obliterated by excavation for the Annex basement. Entrance at or near center of front can be accurately located by remnants of paving, and by fills marking location of cheek walls. The mortar on the face of this portion of the foundation walls is in a better state of preservation than elsewhere. The protection which a flight of steps would provide for the wall behind them seems the likeliest explanation of this condition.

Probable Use
Historical evidence (See Research Report and Chronological Table) does not distinguish between this building and B, 2 immediately to the west. Material evidence is wanting for a comparison of probable dates, for the foundation proper of B has completely disappeared. Both A and B may have been erected by John Blair before the end of 1747; or one may have been erected then, the other later. It seems safe to assume that (1) one of the two, if not both, existed before the end of 1747, (2) B existed before 1769 and (3) both existed not later than 1779 (if reference to "double store" implies two buildings), or at the very latest by the time of the Frenchman's Map.

B.

House at southwest corner. For location of the west wall (facing Court House Green) there is no direct evidence, but it may coincide with the west line of the Annex excavation or with the projected line of the west end of Market Square Tavern. These two lines themselves nearly coincide. The east and north walls have been obliterated and their location is conjectural.

Remnants of paving along the south side of the plot give positive evidence of the location of the south wall. The paving consists of bats which are in fair condition at the north edge (marking the original house line); but the brick 12" or 18" to the south begins to be badly crushed and grades off to nothing. Such extreme wear, in an area out of the current of traffic, is strong evidence that horses were often left tied up here.

The original front stoop and steps are clearly delimited. Cheek walls and substructure of steps were of brick. A wood floor was probably used to cover the clear span between the cheek walls. Treads were of stone slabs, variable in size, and smoothed on top only (judging by the few slabs now remaining.)

A 6" fill of earth and broken shell covered the original paving in the area around the stoop. This fill was no doubt deposited in order to secure drainage as the street or sidewalk was built up.

Paving stones rested on the fill east and west of the stoop. They are similar to the treads described above, but their level indicates that they are of a later period. They may be remnants of the bottom treads of flanking steps built to return against the house, at or after the time when the grade was raised.

Probable Use
See A.

C.

A foundation roughly centered between entrances to A and B may indicate a connecting stoop. Now standing are three corner piers and a wall running north to south at center. The wall suggests that the floor level may have changed in the east to west length of the stoop. The date of these foundations is certainly not early, for they stand on a fill (the continuation of that described under B). The date may be that of Chowning's Tavern (1766) or Dixon's Store (1769).

Since the stoop projects nearly to the property line, steps from it probably ran along the house front.

Probable Use
The "double store" referred to in the Research report might have been structure A alone, divided in two halves; or it might possibly have been B alone. But foundation C seems to form a connecting link between A and B, and may constitute evidence that the two were used together as a double store.

D.

About 45' to north of A and B, and roughly centered between them, is a foundation 12' square which may be the outbuilding shown on the Frenchman's Map.

Probable Use
If this building stood at the same time as G, it may have been used as a wood shed (since G, whatever its use, certainly 4 contained. a fire-pit. But it is highly probable that G was destroyed before the erection of D (see Chronological Summary), and in this case D may have had one of the common functions of domestic outbuildings of this size (smoke house, dairy, etc.); or may have been used later, in connection with M and N, for commercial or manufacturing purposes.

E.

About 10' northeast of D is a foundation of kitchen type, date uncertain, overlaid by another foundation (L) of similar type but certainly late date. E rests partly on a fill up to 1' in depth. Sections of all four walls remain in place.

Probable Use
Kitchen, which must have followed F (on the remains of which it partially rests). It may have been built when the property was first used as a tavern (c1766).

F.

Two short pieces of foundations near E appear to belong to the north and south walls of a building which must be earlier than E, since part of E is built over one wall of F. The eastern wall may, be approximately located at the point to which a backfill can be traced, in continuation of the existing north wall. The location of the west wall is conjectural, but it must have stood to westward of structure G for reasons outlined below.

Probable Use
Shed for G. Roof protection for G would have been necessary, 5 for without it the firing-pit and fire-bed would have been subject to flood. The mortar and brick used, the level in relation to other structures, and the historical evidence¹ all point to the conclusion that these two structures may have existed at the same early date.

G.

Between D and E is the foundation of a furnace, oven, or kiln, round except for four deep cuts of varying sizes and at irregular points in its circumference. To the southwest is a squared face in which is the opening of a fire-chamber. The diameter of the mass exceeds 7', and its bottom is more than 3' below present grade. A small firing pit outside the fire-chamber door was at the same low level.

It is assumed that the structure was set so low in order to hold the working surface to a convenient height. The liability to flooding due to the low level leads to the inference that the structure must have been roofed over, perhaps by a shed now represented by foundation F.

The present top is very irregular, but the original floor level can be estimated with reasonable certainty. A 9" curb, 1c high, formed the edge except where interrupted by the chimney and by the fire-chamber opening.

Some of the bricks in the top courses are laid without reference to the circular shape of the mass, and apparently without regard to exterior appearance, projecting corners having been simply chipped into conformity with the general surface.

The fire-box penetrates the mass for about 2/3 of its diameter, from southwest to northeast; it has a pavement 1c thick, and is 16" to 17" wide except near the mouth, where it broadens to form a reveal more than 24" wide, and apparently intended to accommodate a door.

This reveal is flanked by abutments of unequal width, the heavier of which may have been designed to receive hinge sockets for the door.

Near the south edge of the top surface is a channel cut in the solid brickwork and sloping west to the outside edge. This 6 channel may be accidental or may be intended for drainage.

A chimney northeast of the fire-chamber is indicated by the beginning of the sloping throat of a flue, and by the character of the brick in this area, which is laid so as to conform to a square shape. The brickwork has so far disintegrated that the sides of the chimney can be only approximately determined. But it probably rose with an axis diagonal to the ridge of the roof of F, under which it nearly centered.

Above the fire-chamber, near its inner end, are remnants of a lime-mortar bed or socket in which a kettle (maximum diameter 2') must have been held above the fire. Apparently this kettle was set hard against a boss (2 bricks wide and 2c high, shaped on top) which divides the flue throat and would serve both to steady the kettle and to distribute the draft across the whole width of the fire-chamber.

Probable Use
G must have been used as an enclosed chamber for some steaming, drying, heating, or cooking purpose. It must have been enclosed, because if left with an open top it could hardly have performed any function other than those of an ordinary forge or kitchen hearth. There is no direct evidence concerning its use. Its shape is not that of a forge, or of a bake-oven.

The shape does not appear to be essentially different from those of foundations for a hop-drying kiln or "oast house". Hops are known to have been raised and cured in the colony, but no historical or direct material evidence appears of such industry on this particular site. The kettle-socket appears to be in conflict with this hypothesis, as does the small size of the foundation.¹

There are several grounds for surmising that the structure may have been used as a steam-chamber to prepare wood for bending in the trade of wheelwright Hoye, and perhaps in that of blacksmith Bird (see Chronological Table).

The following indices suggest that vertical planks were used to enclose a cylindrical space above the brick table.:

• (1)The disregard for exterior appearance shown in laying the top brick courses suggests an intention to cover this portion of the work.
• (2)Mortar on the outside surface, near the top, seems to have been squeezed against some flat surface such as planks.

(Certain notches cut into the brickwork appear to have been intended to receive wooden uprights. But such uprights would 7 considerably diminish the interior space, end were probably not part of the original construction. It is assumed that the notches were cut at some later date, for an unknown purpose.)

The circular shape of the structure may have been adopted as a precaution against steam pressure. Planks forming a cylinder, if provided with adjustable hoops and grooved or lapped joints could have been tightened as a further precaution to the same end.

The large fixed kettle must have been well adapted to the production of steam.

Unless the fire-chamber was sealed over, before and after it passed under the kettle, steam would have been able to escape by this channel into the flue. Between the kettle and the door, a brick segmental vault covering the fire-chamber would have provided such a seal (but no direct evidence of vault construction was found, unless the special shapes mentioned under brick be so considered). The small spaces between kettle and chimney could be easily sealed with mortar. The necessity of a seal would help to explain why a bed of mortar was provided for the kettle.

The channel cut into the floor may have been intended to carry off drainage from condensation.

The chimney has been tentatively located in a position which would hold its back clear of the plank casing, and its front face¹ clear of the kettle. The depth would then be about 30" or 31"; and if the width is taken to be equal, the resulting outline roughly conforms with a square on the present surface which may have been laid as a base.

The rear portion of the steam chamber may have been walled off on a line with the face of the chimney. The base of the chimney might then be stepped out, on the flanks and perhaps on the rear, for the sake of structural solidity. Rather more than half of the interior of the cylinder would remain free for use, so that segments of wood up to a half-circle could be handled.

It seems possible that the top to the steam-chamber, approximately a semi-circle, may have been hinged to be raised back against the face of the chimney. Such a top would allow access to the interior, if the walls were not too high; and the casing would not have been weakened by the insertion of a door.

Brick
Size 8¼ x 3¾ x 2-3/8. Soft, color buff to red. Bond extremely unsystematic but generally determined by shape of structure. Most brick are soft. There is no evidence of deterioration caused by heat. Some brick with edges in the form of parallelograms were found loose. Their use is undetermined; but possibly 8 they were part of a vault construction over the fire chamber, or they may have been used in the sloping throat of the smoke flue. Neither explanation is very convincing, since a slope for either of these purposes could easily have been produced with mortar.

Mortar
Oyster-shell lime and sand, generally whitish, but yellowish in top courses.

Condition
Generally good. Appears fit for re-use except that (1) the chimney is entirely gone; (2) outside the chimney area, the top two or three courses are gone or in bad condition; and (3) the large notches around the outside are a more serious problem, but if necessary could be filled in with matching brickwork.

H.

West of D is a short piece of early brickwork with no apparent relationship to the other remains. It is 1c deep, of soft burned brick, with mortar of oyster-shell lime and sand. Condition bad.

I.

Inside the kitchen site are two lines of brick, 1c deep, which may represent foundation walls. Their purpose is conjectural, and their date uncertain, but one of them passes through an opening cut in the foundation of the first kitchen E, and so must have come later. It seems possible that after the disappearance of the second kitchen (L), its foundations were re-used for north and south walls of a smaller outbuilding, for which new foundations (1) were provided on east and west.

J.

Remains of a modern well, perhaps on the original site. Lining is oval (inside dia. 3'-5" and 3'-9"), but probably originally circular and forced out of shape by soil pressure. Square curb (one course on edge) has been bowed inward, and in places over the lining 9 by the same force. The well was filled in at a time so recent that automobile parts were found in the excavation. The construction is of a late date, but of early material re-used.

K.

Foundation of a late construction, perhaps an addition to D, built partly over the remnants of G.

L.

Foundation of a second kitchen built nearly over the site of E, about the middle of the XIX century. An irregular mass of crushed brick at the east end of this foundation seems to be what is left of its hearth; but it extends so far to the south that it might have been laid as hearth for E, the first kitchen (which had a fireplace farther to the south than that of L.)

M. N.

Two foundations of late date, built of reclaimed material use and purpose unknown.

Paving
Bricks were uncovered in small patches southeast of L, east of M, and north of N. Some of this paving is badly crushed, and all is so deteriorated that it cannot be dated with certainty. Paved areas would be desirable to accommodate horses where the trades of wheelwright and blacksmith were carried on, and the patches discovered furnish evidence that such areas existed, but their extent cannot be determined.

Aside from hearth construction noted under L, no evidence of floors was found, inside any foundation. It may be that all the outbuildings had earth floors.

CHRONOLOGICAL SUMMARY

It seems possible that the earliest buildings of the rearward group were G, with a covering perhaps represented by foundation F (plus a well which was probably covered by a well head, perhaps in the same location as well J.)

Structure D may have been built for fuel storage along with G, or soon after: it is well located for such a use. But a wood-house would be serviceable only if shed F was standing to cover G; and it seems unlikely that D was in fact standing at the same time as F (judging from their awkward positions in relation to each other in plan). It seems more reasonable to suppose that D was constructed after F (and presumably G) had disappeared.

G had certainly been taken down before structure K was erected, for the latter rests directly on the foundations of the former.

Since the first kitchen, E, was built over foundation F, the supposition arises that the structures belonging to the smithy (F, G) fell into disuse about 1766, when the site was used for a tavern; and that E was erected about the same time for the service of the tavern.

If F was gone when E was erected, it is likely that G (which depended on F for protection) was gone too.

Suggested groupings according to period are, therefore:

• 1.F, G (the heating structure and its shed.) c 1747-c1766
• 2.E (the earlier kitchen). c1766-1800?
• 3.K, L, M, N (buildings known to be later because built over foundations of periods 1 and 2, or because of the physical character of the remnants.)

Structure D remains unassigned between periods 1 and 2 because of conflicting evidence.

H. and I are unassigned because of insufficient evidence.

J is of late construction, but its site may be that of the original well.

Chronological Table
Based on Report of Department of Research and Record 20:21

Sources

• 1.Fragments
  

  Earth from the site was not screened, because the Annex excavation had rendered valueless so large a proportion of the most promising area (on the south). But a certain quantity of material came to light without screening.

  Architecturally the most valuable finds were:

  • (a)The specially shaped bricks mentioned under G. (An example of each size has been selected for preservation.)
  • (b)A wrought iron "arrowhead" strap hinge, badly rusted.

  Objects of lesser architectural interest include a pistol, very badly rusted (found to eastward of M), and numerous fragments of chinaware, glassware, pottery, and flat metal table and cooking ware.

  These fragments, after cleaning, will be deposited in study drawers in the Archaeological Museum.

• 2.Photographs
  

  Points from which photographs were taken are indicated on Archaeological Survey drawing. Prints may be found in record books in offices of Williamsburg Restoration, Inc. Negatives remain in the Frank Nivison collection.

  N 5989 -	A from southeast
  N 5990 -	E, L, and I from northeast
  N 5991 -	J from south
  N 5992 -	D and K from southwest
  N 5993 -	G and F from southwest
  N 5994 -	M and N from northwest
  N 5995 -	B from southeast
  N 5996 -	C and A from west
  N	shows fragments assembled for study and display.

• 3.Archaeological Field Notes
  In separate file.
• 4.Archaeological Survey Drawing
  A print is incorporated herewith.
• 5.Research Report
  A copy is incorporated herewith.