Colonial Williamsburg Digital Library

EAST ELEVATION

SHINGLES

See under same heading for Wythe House. These explain why the round butt shingles were used and how they had to be made of fireproof material to conform to local fire laws.

DORMER WINDOWS

None. See under same heading South Outbuilding.

CORNICE

See under same heading South Outbuilding. Precedent at Marmion, King George County; Tuckahoe, Goochland County; Mount Vernon and Shirley reveals that groups of outbuildings about a mansion tend to 3. have similarity of detail. For this reason a typical cornice was used on most of the Wythe Outbuilding.

GUTTER AND LEADER

See under same heading South Outbuilding.

WALL SURFACE

Ditto.

Angle view of WYTHE KITCHEN, showing treatment of the building corners with beaded corner board and rough sawn weatherboarding with lower edge beaded. Boards are attached by face nailing. Nails have hammered heads.

PORCH

Ditto.

FRONT DOOR

None.

WINDOWS

One window appears in the gable but none on the first floor because the stair ascends on the inside of the end wall. See later remarks under Interiors.

See also remarks under north and south elevation, describing larger first floor windows. Second floor windows in this type of building were conventionally smaller in the eighteenth century. For precedent for this and for the particular kind of eight light double hung window used here as well as discussion in detail of materials, etc., see under eight lights window in the report on the South Outbuilding. See also "Window Details" in the files of the Architectural Records Division of the Department of architecture. These show window types and their relations to periods.

SHUTTERS

None. In the eighteenth century in outbuildings of their kind, shelters seem not to have been used in general.

BASEMENT WALL

See under the same heading for South Outbuilding.

CHIMNEYS

See remarks under General Notes above for location. See also under interiors for descriptions of fireplaces, oven, etc. and particularly for fireplaces on the second floor. The combination of these governed the size of the chimney stock, based on the proportions of flue areas, etc. to fireplace openings. Using the conventional eighteenth century elements of functional proportions the exterior chimney stock design was roughed out on this basis. Breaks were introduced in the stock also according to eighteenth century conventional treatment. Precedent for such breaks in chimneys are at the Public Records Office, Moody House, Bracken House in Williamsburg and many others. These breaks represent three flues, two in the large portion and one in the smaller making in plan a "T" shaped stock. In some cases, as at the Wren Building where more than three flues had to be accommodated an added break was installed giving in plan a cross shaped stock. See precedent 5. for the cross shaped stock at the Governor's Palace and the old kitchen on the Ryland Place in Williamsburg.

The height and size of the chimney was made generous inasmuch as its proximity to the large mass of the Wythe House would create a tendency toward down draughts which could only be compensated for by height. The original builders would have been compelled to take such steps by circumstances alone. Latter design of the cap see under the same heading for South Outbuilding. See under Cornice above for remarks on similarity of detail in outbuilding groups.

FLOOR

For flooring see under South Outbuilding.

BARGE BOARDS (END BOARDS) CORNER BOARDS

See remarks under Cornice above and also under South Outbuilding.

GENERAL NOTES

See under South Outbuilding for painting.

NORTH ELEVATION

SHINGLES

See East Elevation.

DORMER WINDOWS

Ditto.

CORNICE

Ditto.

GUTTER AND LEADER

Ditto.

WALL SURFACE

Ditto.

FRONT DOOR

None.

WINDOWS

See certain preliminary remarks under East Elevation. For spacing, etc., see under interiors, General Notes. In general the arrangements of windows on the exterior was governed in simple eighteenth century outbuildings like this structure, by interior 6. function. It was common practice, also, to repeat windows or bays at one side, the same upon the other - note this convention in the Wythe House itself and how it was carried out.

Because the kitchen is a larger structure than the South Outbuilding, larger windows were designed following precedent at Tuckahoe, Goochland County; Mount Vernon and many others; for detailed descriptions of the windows and precedent therefore, see the South Outbuilding report. As maintained above similarity in detailing was maintained in general among the outbuildings. Therefore, the details of skeleton frames, sills and sash were made like those of the South Outbuilding. The only difference being that the sash over-all dimensions are greater.

SHUTTERS

These are as for the South Outbuilding but paired rather than single. This is typical in the above precedent where windows are three lights wide.

BASEMENT WALL

See East Elevation.

CHIMNEY

Ditto.

BARGE BOARDS (END BOARDS) CORNER BOARDS

Ditto.

WEST ELEVATION

SHINGLES

See East Elevation.

DORMER WINDOWS

Ditto.

CORNICE

Ditto.

GUTTER AND LEADER

Ditto.

WALL SURFACE

Ditto.

PORCH

See under same heading for South Outbuilding.

FRONT DOOR

See notes under general notes on interiors for discussion of the plan of the kitchen governing the location of the door. See also notes above on similarity of details among the Wythe Outbuildings. With these facts established the door was designed like the great door of the South Outbuilding see therefore, the like heading in the report on that building.

WINDOWS

See East Elevation.

SHUTTERS

Ditto.

CHIMNEY

Ditto.

BARGE BOARDS (END BOARDS) CORNER BOARDS

Ditto.

SOUTH ELEVATION

SHINGLES

See East Elevation.

DORMER WINDOWS

Ditto.

CORNICE

Ditto.

GUTTER AND LEADER

Ditto.

WALL SURFACE

Ditto.

PORCH

Ditto.

FRONT DOOR

None.

WINDOWS

See general notes for Interiors and North Elevation for location and description.

SHUTTERS

See North Elevation.

BASEMENT WALL

See East Elevation.

CHIMNEY

Ditto.

BARGE BOARDS (END BOARDS) CORNER BOARDS

Ditto.

George Wythe House Kitchen Interior, as reconstructed. The arrangement and furnishing of the Kitchen Interior is based entirely upon our collected knowledge of the typical Virginia Kitchen, of which many examples in Tidewater Virginia survive.

FLOOR: FIRST

FLOOR

For reasons for installing the brick floor, see remarks under this item for South Outbuilding with the exception of a strip or hearth of square brick or tile installed along the width of the chimney breast. No satisfactory evidence was found for this feature. Data filed in the Department of Research and Record show the common type of kitchen floor was brick in the eighteenth century. Several items also indicate the use of brick tile. Excavations at the Prentis House and Russell sites in Block 17 brought to light 11. the use of hearths in different patterns than those of the brick floors in kitchen outbuildings. Twice a quantity of the square brick tile was found scattered about in the vicinity of the foundations of the Kitchen. It seemed permissible to express a hearth in this instance with reproductions of the same brick. These were made by the Construction Department with clay shaped by hand - specially for this Kitchen building. For other notes on brick manufacture, see under South Outbuilding and Wythe House, also Report on Brickmaking in files of Division of Records, Architectural Department.

FLOOR NAILS

None.

BEAMS

None in the first floor.

WALLS AND WALL COVERING

The framework and wall construction see under this heading in South Outbuilding report, first paragraph.

For plasterwork - ditto - third paragraph.

Plaster walls were common in Colonial Virginia kitchens, as noted in data in the files of the Department of Research and Record, for example, the kitchens at Oakley, Lancaster County, Marmion, King George County and many others.

CEILING

See under this heading in South Outbuilding report and references thereunder.

BASEBOARD

The base is typical for the above mentioned precedent and was copied from the original baseboard in the Wythe House. It was made of "B or Better," Long Leaf Yellow Pine as was the original model.

CHAIR RAIL

No chair railing was installed - following above precedent. Along the west wall a hook strip was inserted composed of a board with beads run on the outer edges, top and bottom. Hook strips 12. were quite common in Colonial Virginia buildings and practical only in kitchens, for use in hanging the miscellaneous kitchen utensils, etc.

The design of the strip was copied from several original ones in closets at the Wythe House. It was fabricated from "B or Better," Long Leaf Yellow Pine and closely followed the model.

CORNICE

None. See later remarks on ceiling and ceiling joists.

PANELLING OR WAINSCOT

None except at stair - see notes thereunder.

MANTEL

None. See under fireplace and hearth.

FIREPLACE AND HEARTH

See Archaeological Report drawings and photographs - also under General Notes. As mentioned therein, the size of the fireplace was clearly expressed by the original foundations. Although altered at a later period, careful removal of the later work revealed the original mass of brick. It was evident that the large kitchen fireplace was accompanied by an oven. Ovens were common within Virginia kitchens and appeared as adjuncts to the large kitchen fireplace. The precedent used in designing this fireplace was the same as for the South Outbuilding - see under this heading the report. See also thereunder for wood heaters, stringers and for the hand wrought iron trammel bars. The only differences between this fireplace and that in the South Outbuilding are in the size, the oven and the spit rack as mentioned below. With these exceptions the remarks on the South Outbuilding are applicable here. For the hearth, see notes on the floor in this room. See also General Notes on the Interior, above.

The oven was designed from examples at Oakley, Lancaster County, and The Rectory, Accomac County. It is a different type of oven from that generally used in the eighteenth century in that it has 13. Detail of Spit Rack, installed in Kitchen. 14. its own firebox which in turn boasts its own flue. The metal door to the baking oven was designed after an original example of the locality and as shown in an example on display at the Old Court House. The mass of brick about the oven and firebox was brought up to the shelf height and leveled off. On it a wood shelf was installed. The design of the brickwork to be so leveled off has precedent at Westover, Charles City County and Tuckahoe, Goochland County. The wood shelf was made of "B or Better," Long Leaf Yellow Pine. Although based upon the quoted precedent the wood shelf was missing. It would have been in place originally to prevent breaking of chinaware or pottery and scratching of metal utensils placed there for temporary storage.

The spit rack was a very common feature at colonial fireplaces used for cooking. This also was true in England. There are very fine ones at the kitchen at Mount Vernon, Matthias Hammond House, Annapolis, Maryland, and other places. At Mount Vernon and in many other instances the slotted uprights wherein the spits rest when not in use are connected with one or more shelves to give space for storing incidental utensils. The spit rack in our building was designed after the above precedent. The batters and shelf were made of yellow pine and the slotted uprights of walnut.

WINDOWS

See General Notes under Interior for location and under Windows on Exterior. Except for the larger sash size the interior trim is identical to that used in the South Outbuilding, where it occurs on the plaster wall surface as an outline. The hardware, glazing and finish of the woodwork are also as for the South Outbuilding.

DOOR AND TRIM

Besides the door to the stair, described under Stairs below, there is an entrance door into the west room or pantry. For its precise location in plan, see General Notes above. It is a board and batten door of a very common colonial type. For particular precedent, see photographs in the files of Colonial Williamsburg and H. A. B. S. measured drawings. The molded battens were adapted closely from those on doors at West St. Mary's Manor near St. Mary's, Maryland. The door was made of "B or Better." Long Leaf Yellow Pine as in the quoted precedent. The boards are capped and beaded at the joints and are fixed to the battens by nails driven through and clinched on the batten side. For a description of such clinching, see under Shutters at South Outbuilding. The nails are modern cut nails but their heads are hand wrought so as to be like typical Colonial nails.

The frame and trim are designed after conventional patterns - particular precedent being at less important doors in the John Blair House, Williamsburg. The back band is copied from an original one in the Wythe House, as is the beading. The trim is of "B or Better," Long Leaf Yellow Pine and the frame of best grade Heart Long Leaf Yellow Pine as in the above precedent.

METAL WORK ON DOOR

For door at stair, see stairs below.

See paragraph above for nails.

The hardware was fabricated by hand methods by the Construction and Maintenance Department. The hinges are 20" strap hinges on pintles with a heart shaped termination. These are fixed to the door with nails having hand wrought heads. All are careful copies of original Williamsburg hardware of the period on display at the 16. Old Court House museum. The thumb latch and assembly are copied from an original colonial model at the Colonial Williamsburg warehouse by the same methods as for the hinges. The use of thumb latches on doors was very common in Colonial Virginia, particularly in the case of houses of lesser size.

COLOR

The plaster was whitewashed and the woodwork left untreated as in the South Outbuilding - see notes in the report on it.

STAIRS

See the general remarks on precedent for the design under this heading in the South Outbuilding report. As explained there, this stair is a very close copy of that shown in the Layton photograph in the files of Colonial Williamsburg.

RISERS AND TREADS

See South Outbuilding report.

NEWEL POST AND HANDRAIL

Since the stair is enclosed up to the second floor there are no newel posts or railings. On the second floor, however, as a shield to the well opening, a newel and rails were installed. Precedent and use of materials for these are described in the South Outbuilding report.

BALUSTERS

None. Instead of balusters there is a beaded board used at the well rail on the second floor as described in the South Outbuilding report.

STRINGER - STRING BOARD AND STRING ORNAMENT

Since the stair is enclosed the strings are replaced by the boarding following the precedent of the Layton photograph. Along the plaster wall, however, the string is simply a continuation of the beaded baseboard on the first and second floor rooms. This was given the usual colonial treatment; for instance, as at the Wythe House. The sheathed portion of the stairs is of very wide beaded boards as at the South Outbuilding and of Band helter Long Leaf 17. Yellow Pine with the surfaces treated with hand planing to be like typical sheathing of the period. Certain members are of poplar, similarly surfaced, i.e. the beaded corner board and the frame of the door. Poplar was used often in colonial stair construction, as at the Wythe House.

The door is similar in design to the door across the room next to the chimney breast. See description thereunder; also for the hardware. The location of a door to a stair in a kitchen would seem a practical method of preventing the cooking odors from rising to the second floor. The stair of the Layton photograph also has this feature.

CLOSED OR OPEN STRING

See above.

LANDING (IF ANY)

(Floor - windows or openings on, if any - posts - handrail and balusters - gallery board). Most of these items are covered above. Otherwise, see the description in the South Outbuilding report.

EQUIPMENT

For convenience, three electric outlets were installed as in conspicuously as possible in the baseboard. For further details of electric installation, location of conduit, etc., see Mechanical Drawings on file in the Architectural Department.

No heating or plumbing were installed. The fireplace supplies needed heat. See general correspondence files of Colonial Williamsburg for the background of policy.

Copper tubing for the fire alarm system was installed - see description in the South Outbuilding report.

FLOOR: FIRST
ROOM: KITCHEN PANTRY

FLOOR

The name of this room was never determined satisfactorily. As for South Outbuilding.

FLOOR NAILS

None.

BEAMS

In the first floor, none. For those in the ceiling, see Second Floor Notes.

WALLS AND WALL COVERING

As for Kitchen above except there is no hook strip.

CEILING

As for Kitchen above.

BASEBOARD

Ditto.

CHAIR RAIL

None.

CORNICE

None.

PANELLING OR WAINSCOT

None.

MANTEL

None. See fireplace.

FIREPLACE AND HEARTH

See remarks under General Notes above.

Plot plan of George Wythe House, showing location of "Kitchen," north of house. There are a few fragments of "South Outbuilding." Marl paths were found to aid in the reconstruction of the garden.

THE SOUTH OUTBUILDING OF THE GEORGE WYTHE HOUSE, FACING ON PALACE GREEN, AS RESTORED.

EXTERIOR

GENERAL NOTES

The following data were used in determining the exterior design for this structure:

• 1.George Wythe House - Architectural Notes - Department of Research and Record - Colonial Williamsburg, Incorporated, September 1, 1938.
• 2.Research Report - Department of Research and Record.
• 3.Archaeological Report - Architectural Department - Colonial Williamsburg, Incorporated, August 31, 1939.

  NOTE: The Archaeological Report contains full references to all photographs, measured drawings, documentary data, etc. pertaining to the recording of the excavations at this lot.

• 4.Folder of field notes - on file in Architectural Department.

  NOTE: Field Notes contain the sketches and notes made in preparing data in item No. 2.

• 5.Graphic Data.
  • a.The Frenchman's Map and enlargements thereof at present filed with Department of Public Relations - Colonial Williamsburg, Incorporated.
  • b.Rochambeau Maps and enlargements thereof are at present filed with Department of Research and Record Colonial Williamsburg, Incorporated.
  • 21.
  • c.Photographic Collection of Department of Architecture with illustrations of Tidewater outbuildings, to serve as examples of the same period.
  • d.Drawings and photographs of plantation houses made by Mr. Arthur Shurcliff, Landscape Architect for Colonial Williamsburg.
• 6.The Sauthier Maps of North Carolina Towns now on file at the Department of Research and Record - Colonial Williamsburg, Incorporated.
• 7.Miscellaneous data as mentioned in detail in the following pages under specific headings.

There were sufficient data indicated on the Frenchman's and Rochambeau Maps to show that this building existed. Archaeological investigation confirmed the Frenchman's Map and revealed its formations. Thus its size and location were precisely determined. See Archaeological Report. See also relation of outbuildings to the main house under Wythe House Architectural Report, Exterior, general notes.

There were sufficient data indicated on the Frenchman's and Rochambeau Maps to show that this building existed. Archaeological investigation confirmed the Frenchman's Map and revealed its formations. Thus its size and location were precisely determined. See Archaeological Report. See also relation of outbuildings to the main house under Wythe House Architectural Report, Exterior, general notes.

The exterior design of this building was not indicated by any available specific data. The insurance policies covering the Wythe House lot and building on it did not show the South Outbuilding possibly because it had disappeared by the time they were made. The policies did show the northern line of outbuildings such as the kitchen, laundry, smoke house, lumber house and stable, and indicated in a general way their exterior appearance. This indicated character of the exterior design was adopted for the South Outbuilding details such as the form of building, cornice, windows, etc., based upon known precedent of Tidewater examples, as stated below.

In general all portions of the building exposed to view were designed and executed by following closely the known construction methods of the colonial period of Williamsburg and vicinity. All portions concealed or hidden from the eye were executed according to the best methods of modern construction. As this policy pertains for all of the exhibition buildings of Colonial Williamsburg, Incorporated, it was continued here. Unless otherwise noted, all woodwork, moulded or otherwise, was shaped out and fabricated by modern millwork methods. In some cases hand work was employed, as noted, but fabrication of woodwork to profiles and shapes as called for in the drawings would have been prohibitive in cost were it effected by hand. Also exposed exterior woodwork for the most part was made of heart red gulf cypress. Conventionally yellow pine was used in the eighteenth century hereabouts for such woodwork. Today the quality and sizes of available yellow pine are not as they were in the earlier time. For this reason the cypress was used. It is far more permanent and can be obtained in wider widths than the pine. Cypress also receives and retains successive coats of paint much more satisfactorily.

From time to time in this report references are made to conventional architectural and building conventions of the eighteenth century. This is intended to mean conventions in Williamsburg and the contemporary colonial areas of Virginia. When it is intended to refer to places or examples outside these areas specific geographical location is given.

The name given this structure - South Outbuilding - is simply a descriptive label. There is no evidence for it. As explained above it might have served several purposes, and thus had several names. No name has so far appeared in the known evidence. Since this is so, the proper designation of the building will have to be determined in the future.

The specifications and drawings prepared for the reconstruction of this building are listed below. They are on file in the Architectural Department of Colonial Williamsburg, Incorporated. These should be consulted by anyone seeking complete and detailed information about the building. Also the general correspondence files of the architects can be consulted to get the background of the work, its costs, approvals, policies of maintenance, exhibition, etc.

See also Specifications, dated March 27, 1939 - 12 pages.

EAST ELEVATION

SHINGLES

See remarks under the same heading for Wythe House. These explain why the round butt shingles were used and how they had to be made of fireproof material to conform to local fire laws.

DORMER WINDOWS

None. Precedent from Marmion, King George County, Tuckahoe, Goochland County, and that of general Tidewater colonial work indicates dormers in outbuildings were sometimes used, but more often not. Although there was no specific data concerning this structure 24. on this point, the above conventional precedent was relied upon.

CORNICE

Outbuilding cornices were very similar in type for the most part in the Virginia Tidewater in the colonial period. The conventional profiles were adopted in this building, particular precedent being Tuckahoe, Goochland County, Virginia, and Kendall Grove, Northampton County (near Eastville), Virginia. For permanence, heart gulf cypress was used for the material. The members were nailed together using a modern type finish nail which closely resembles those employed in colonial times.

GUTTER AND LEADER

None. See remarks under this heading for Wythe House. At the ground level on the line of eaves dripping a row of bricks was laid flat to prevent the roof water from scouring the soil and spattering walls. Almost all Colonial Williamsburg sites excavated and recorded by Colonial Williamsburg, Incorporated have shown evidences of some such treatment. Whether the brick gutters at ground surface were original or a subsequent remedy has not been determined.

WALL SURFACE

This is composed of typical eighteenth century kind of beaded weatherboarding. Its shape and profile being almost invariable in Williamsburg in that period. Specific precedent was found at the James Galt House, St. Johns House and many others.

The weatherboards were attached to the framework by nails with hand wrought heads. The nails were driven to show on the face following precedent at St. Johns House and Taliaferro-Cole House, Williamsburg.

PORCH

None. Due to lack of antique stone fragments a temporary rough hewn wooden step of elm was installed at the door. Later, when available, an antique stone step will be installed.

FRONT DOOR

The trim of this door follows precedent of similar outbuilding door trim at the office, Greenway, Charles City County, Virginia; Tuckahoe, Goochland County, Virginia; Tayloe Office, Williamsburg, Virginia. The profiles of the mouldings were copied from original mouldings inside the Wythe House. The material is heart red gulf cypress, see general notes.

The frame and sill of this door follow the above precedent in design. They were made up from best grade heart long leaf yellow pine. Door frames and sills required the tougher quality of pine for good wearing. This was conventional practice in the eighteenth century.

The trim and frame are made up of several members, assembled to imitate the conventional eighteenth century method of joining a solid sill to solid jambs and head with mortices, tenons and wood pins. As this joinery is concealed from the eye, modern assembly methods have been used, see general notes. The pegs have been expressed, but actually serve no purpose.

The door is copied from typical interior doors in the Wythe House. The use of a panelled door in an outbuilding was common in the eighteenth century in Virginia as at Bowman's Folly, Accomac County; Greenway, Charles City County; Mount Vernon and many other places. The door was made of the same materials as the original doors in the Wythe House, that is, stiles and rails of best grade heart long leaf yellow pine and panels of B and better long leaf yellow pine. Concealed copper flashing was installed about this door - see general notes on modern construction.

The hardware of this door was fabricated by hand following antique examples in possession of Colonial Williamsburg, Incorporated, 26. and other precedent as noted. One pair H-L 14" hinges, one wood dead lock iron bound with keys, one thumblatch copied from an original one on the west exterior door in the Wythe House.

WINDOWS

Eight light windows were installed following eighteenth century Virginia precedent for size, design and use in such an outbuilding as at Greenway, Charles City County; Tuckahoe, Goochland County; Kittewan, Charles City County.

The trim, sill and frame follow the above precedent in design. The beaded sill set flush with beaded weatherboards has precedent at Kittewan, Charles City County, and at Belle Farm, Gloucester County, also in several eighteenth century Williamsburg houses - and houses in Fredericksburg, Petersburg and Smithfield. It was a common treatment in eighteenth century Virginia frame houses. The sash followed the same precedent in size but the members and mouldings were copied from original second floor sash in the Wythe House. The top sash was fixed as appears to have been customary in the colonial period. The bottom sash was hung on modern sash cords with weights which simulate fairly closely the operation method of the eighteenth century, locally. The pulleys were made of apple wood set in yellow pine shells. The pulley wheel has an axle of iron which rides in a brass sleeve driven into the wheel. The pulley assembly was common in eighteenth century Virginia windows and was copied from examples from the Rolfe House, Surry County; Roper-Lee House, Williamsburg; Tayloe Office, Williamsburg. The sash was glazed with a modern type glass specially fabricated to imitate eighteenth century glass. See notes on the Wythe House.

The trim, or shutter stops, and sash of the windows were made of cypress for permanence (see general notes). The sill and frame were made of best grade heart long leaf yellow pine as was customary in eighteenth century precedent above.

Concealed copper flashing was installed at the head and jambs of the windows, not because of precedent but for greater water tightness. See general notes for remarks on hidden construction.

SHUTTERS

Shutters of beaded boards mounted on beveled battens were installed. The design for these has precedent at the very early Timson House, Williamsburg, and several examples in Fredericksburg, Virginia. The shutters were made of heart gulf cypress - see general notes. The battens were attached to the beaded boards with nails with hand wrought heads as in above precedent. The nails were driven in a five-spot pattern for the same reason, the ends of the nails were bent twice and clinched into the battens. First the nail is driven straight through, projecting well beyond the batten surface, a small part of the nail end is then bent at right angles, the whole projection of the nail is then bent over until the end bend contacts the wood. This is then driven into the batten performing the "clinch." This method was conventional in the eighteenth century for nailing together two pieces of thin wood.

The shutters were mounted on hand wrought iron H-hinges with offsets to swing the blinds clear of the window trim when open. These were hand made by Colonial Williamsburg, Incorporated, Construction Department Blacksmith Shop copying antique models in 28. possession of Colonial Williamsburg, Incorporated. This type hinge was used at Kittewan, Charles City County, Virginia. The shutter holdbacks were copied from an original model found at the Wythe House. Hand wrought hooks and eyes to fasten shutters when closed were also made as for the above. They follow original models in possession of Colonial Williamsburg, Incorporated.

BASEMENT WALL

The original foundations indicated a building with no basement. The old foundations were unsuitable for reuse being badly broken and decayed. A new wall was constructed of specially made hand shaped brick of local clay (see notes on new brick for Wythe House). This brick was installed at those portions of walls exposed to the eye. All hidden portions were of modern type hard burned common brick resting on a footing of concrete (see general notes on hidden construction).

CHIMNEY

The design of this chimney is conventional for the period. More particular reference regarding precedent was found at Kittewan, Charles City County, Mansfield near Petersburg, Virginia, and numerous examples in Fredericksburg, Virginia. The brick was the same as used in the foundations. Flashing was used freely at the juncture of the roof and the chimney. It was of lead coated copper to simulate the lead flashing used at Rosewell, Gloucester County, and the Wren Building, Williamsburg, where the tops of the belt courses on exterior brick walls were flashed with thin lead sheets. Documentary evidence indicates the use of lead to cover the roof deck at the Governor's Palace. No definite facts are available to date to show precedent, locally, for flashing of chimneys at roof junctures as we install it today. It must be put down, therefore, as a concession to modern building methods but in the meanwhile 29. employing materials of a type of which there is precedent. The chimney cap follows in design several local eighteenth century examples: the Greenhow-Repiton Brick Office, Roper-Lee House, Bracken House, of Williamsburg; Office at Greenway, Charles City County.

BARGE BOARDS (END BOARDS) CORNER BOARDS

For Barge or End Boards, see North and South Elevations.

The corner boards follow typical eighteenth century local precedent, with the wide face set parallel to the length of the building, the narrow width at gable ends and with the outer corner beaded. This design was almost invariable on smaller eighteenth century buildings in Virginia. Particular original examples locally were at Captain Orr's Dwelling, the Orrell House, James Galt House and many others.

GENERAL NOTES

The exterior of the house was painted white like the exterior trim of the Wythe House which was known to have been given this color originally (see notes on Wythe House). The door and shutters were painted brown as were the exterior doors of the Wythe House originally. In general, study of original colonial paint colors in this section on exteriors of outbuildings shows the use of white for weatherboarding was very common. Thus by painting this building white general painting precedent was followed. Files of the Department of Research and Record on paint show numerous examples of earth colors such as brown and tan. This convention coupled with the known use of this color on the exterior doors of the Wythe House was felt to be sufficient reason for using the same color on the exterior of the door of this building. The use of the door color on shutters has no definite precedent as far as present available facts are concerned locally. Numerous examples of eighteenth 30. century shutters have been examined, but exposure to weather and consequent repainting later on has made it impossible to identify original colors. Of the various colors noted, however, various shades of greens were most common, although in some instances browns were in evidence. Shutters studied were at the James Galt House, St. George Tucker House, Tayloe House, Moody House and many others.

The placing of the door on this elevation was indicated by fragments of brick paving along this side. See Archaeological Report. No paving indications were found on the west or south sides. By placing the door in the center it would interfere least with the fireplace at the north end and the stair at the south. In so small a plan the south wall would be the logical position for a stair. See interior notes. To balance the door and light the interior, a window was placed on each side as at the Office at Greenway, Charles City County, numerous small structures in Fredericksburg and outbuildings at Mount Vernon.

NORTH ELEVATION

SHINGLES

See East Elevation.

DORMER WINDOWS

See East Elevation.

CORNICE

See East Elevation.

GUTTER AND LEADER

See East Elevation.

WALL SURFACE

See East Elevation.

FRONT DOOR

None.

WINDOWS

None.

SHUTTERS

None.

BASEMENT WALL

See East Elevation.

CHIMNEY

See East Elevation.

BARGE BOARDS (END BOARDS) CORNER BOARDS

For Corner Boards, see East Elevation.

The barge boards in design follow particular eighteenth century precedent as at Montpelier, Surry County; Toddsbury, Gloucester County; Liberty Hall, Colonial Williamsburg, Incorporated, stored at antique warehouse; Tuckahoe, Goochland County. Toddsbury and Tuckahoe furnished data for the cutting and shape of the cornice stop. The other places furnished data for the molding at the top of the rake along the shingle line and its termination at the cornice stop. The beading of the bottom of the barge board or rake was almost invariable on eighteenth century medium sized and small buildings locally. This was true also of the fact that the rake tapers from cornice stop to ridge line.

All the above members were made of heart gulf cypress, best grade for permanence. See under General Notes.

GENERAL NOTES

This elevation was left blank because of the large area of it occupied by the chimney breast and fireplace - all of which were developed from the clear indications of the excavated original foundations. See Archaeological Report. There would not have been room left to introduce windows without excessive cutting of the framework of the building on either side of the mass of the chimney brickwork. Such practical considerations would have affected eighteenth century builders just as much as builders of today.

WEST ELEVATION

SHINGLES

See East Elevation.

DORMER WINDOWS

None - see East Elevation.

CORNICE

See East Elevation.

GUTTER AND LEADER

See East Elevation.

WALL SURFACE

See East Elevation.

PORCH

None.

FRONT DOOR

No Doors.

WINDOWS

As for East Elevation.

SHUTTERS

See East Elevation.

CHIMNEY

See East Elevation.

BARGE BOARDS (END BOARDS) CORNER BOARDS

See North Elevation.

GENERAL NOTES

The placing of the windows follows a conventional formula almost always followed by the eighteenth century builders, that is, in all structures large or small, openings on one side of a building how similar openings similarly placed on the opposing side. This very common practice was followed here - particularly as such efforts were made to carry out the practice in the building of the Wythe House itself. The difference of windows at front and rear of the Allen-Byrd House is exceptional but also with some precedent.

SOUTH ELEVATION

SHINGLES

See East Elevation.

DORMER WINDOWS

None - see East Elevation.

CORNICE

See East Elevation.

GUTTER AND LEADER

None.

WALL SURFACE

As for East Elevation.

PORCH

None.

FRONT DOOR

No Doors.

WINDOW

One window only occurs in this elevation and is placed in the gable of the second floor for the loft. It is a four light casement sash window and was commonly used in small eighteenth century frame buildings in eastern Virginia. Particular reference for precedent was had at Tuckahoe, Goochland County; Bellevue near West Point on the north bank of the York River; Greenway, Charles City County. The design and materials, the sash frame, trim and sill are the same as for those on the East Elevation except that the frame was modified so as to provide for the hinged casement sash. The glazing was the same, also as for windows on the East Elevation.

Hardware consisted of hand wrought H-hinges and hooks and eyes to hold sash open or closed. All were copied from original eighteenth century Virginia examples in possession of Colonial Williamsburg, Incorporated.

SHUTTERS

None. These were not used in the period for four light windows.

BASEMENT WALL

See East Elevation.

CHIMNEY

See East Elevation.

BARGE BOARD (END BOARDS) CORNER BOARDS

See North Elevation.

GENERAL NOTES

Since this is the end of the building against which the interior stair mounts it was felt advisable to omit first floor windows. Precedent for this common convention was found at many places such as outbuildings at Tuckahoe, Goochland County; 34. outbuildings at Marmion, King George County. The fact that this elevation is so close to the five foot high brick wall of Bruton Churchyard lent further weight to this decision.

The George Wythe House as shown on the Frenchman's Map. The South Outbuilding is clearly indicated. This drawing rather than the archaeological artifacts was the basis for the reconstruction.

FLOOR: FIRST

FLOOR

Evidences found in excavating the foundations indicated a brick paved floor. This was installed, with use made of hand made brick specially manufactured for the Wythe House group by the 36. Department of Construction and Maintenance, using local clay. The newly made brick was developed so as to match the original Wythe House brick in size, shape, texture and color.

First a 6" gravel fill was provided as a bed for a reinforced concrete slab 4" thick. Upon this was laid a mortar bed and on the bed were laid the brick. The mortar of the bed was allowed to squeeze up slightly between brick to firmly fix them. The remainder of the joints were then filled with sand. The brick were laid in a "herring-bone" pattern like the early brick floor in the basement of the old Tavern at New Kent Court House. See General Notes under Exterior for remarks on hidden construction.

FLOOR NAILS

None.

BEAMS

In first floor, none. See Second Floor notes.

WALLS AND WALL COVERING

The framework of the walls was of well seasoned good grade #1 Dense Grade Yellow Pine. The sills, plates, braces, corner posts, etc. were of the same. The studs were made of 4" x 4" timbers to give greater rigidity to the walls. The sills were impregnated with insect and rot proofing. See General Notes on hidden construction. See Specifications and drawings for full data on framing.

The wall covering consists of a high board dado, a wood base and plaster above the dado, up to the bottom of the second floor boards. The baseboard is typical of the very common eighteenth century kind. It is copied from the original base in the Wythe House. It is of B and Better Long Leaf Yellow Pine as was the original model. The use of wide random width beaded boards for a dado has precedent at a small eighteenth century house now rapidly falling into decay on the Norge - Croaker Road not far from Norge, 37. Virginia. The name of this house is not known. The hall was treated in the above manner and the boards were never painted. At Marmion, King George County, one of the outbuildings has the walls of one room similarly treated, but up to cornice height. Here, too, the sheathing has never been painted. At the Office at Greenway, Charles City County, the interior walls are treated with a similar dado. The boards, as in the above precedent, were face nailed with nails having the heads hand wrought. The boards were of the same material as the base. To give an authentic type of surface texture they were reworked with planes by hand. The dado cap was copied from an original one in the Ayscough Shop, Williamsburg.

The plaster was of modern type, set upon modern metal lath. See Exterior General Notes on hidden construction. The bottom coats of plaster were given a slightly wavy character. On this the finish coat or skim coat was installed. The skim coat was made with oyster shell lime to simulate eighteenth century plaster effects and was also applied so as to bring out the slightly wavy surface. The effect achieved, therefore, follows as closely as possible the appearance of local colonial plaster work.

CEILING

The ceiling is composed of the second floor exposed joists, and the floor boards upon them. See under Second Floor for description. Such exposed ceilings were very common - as for example in the Marmion kitchen, King George County; Oakley kitchen, Lancaster County, Virginia.

BASEBOARD

See under Wall Covering.

CHAIR RAIL

See under Wall Covering.

CORNICE

None - see under Ceiling.

PANELLING OR WAINSCOT

See under Wall Covering.

MANTEL

None - see under Fireplace and Hearth.

FIREPLACE AND HEARTH

The size and depth of the fireplace were given by the excavated foundations - see Archaeological Report. A type of fire place was designed on the basis of these dimensions and precedent at Tuckahoe, Goochland County; Westover, Charles City County, old kitchen fireplace in outbuilding at Dr. Barraud House, Williamsburg and many others. The throat and slotted back are typical of the colonial period as at Stratford outbuildings, Kings Mill outbuilding, James City County. The breast of the fireplace was carried up to the line of the bottom of the second floor joists where it breaks back into the smaller chimney stack size. This was commonly done in the colonial period as in the above precedent. The wood lintel, typical to the above precedent, was installed. It was made of poplar wood. This material was very common for use in conjunction with colonial brickwork - probably because it is less subject to attack from insects and rot. The rear of this lintel was sheathed in metal laid over asbestos sheeting to protect the wood from fire or heat. This is not visible to the eye and was felt to be a needed concession to good building practice. Above the wood lintel and hidden within the brickwork, steel angles were installed for structural security. See General Notes under Exterior for hidden construction. About 2-½ feet above the wood lintel is a relieving stringer set in the brickwork. This also is of poplar and is hand hewn. Its purpose in colonial chimney breasts, where it is invariably used in Virginia, was apparently to transfer some of the weight of the chimney from the lintel to the heavy 39. brick sides of the fireplace so that less weight would bear on the opening. For instance, all the fireplaces in the Wythe House had this feature. The brick of the breast was left exposed as at Oakley kitchen, Lancaster County; Westover, Charles City County; and other above mentioned precedent. The brick was hand made by Colonial Williamsburg (see Wythe House Exterior Notes) and laid in oyster shell mortar (see Wythe House Exterior Notes). Only the face brick or exposed brick was colonial type. Backing up brick was a good grade common brick - see General Notes under Exterior on hidden construction. The brick was laid in English Bond as in the above several examples of precedent.

Hand wrought trammel bars were made by the Construction and Maintenance Department Blacksmith. These were often used in colonial times as at Shirley, Charles City County, placed on ledges at the bottom of the throat to support the pot hooks and to provide better facilities for hanging cooking vessels than the familiar crane.

The throat was copied closely from precedent at Stratford outbuildings, and one at Kings Mill and checked against many local examples. Given the size of the fireplace by the foundations and utilizing an average colonial conventional height in proportion to the width, a reasonably accurate area of vertical fireplace opening was established. The modern practice in designing fireplaces is to make the flue area in size between 1/10 and 1/12 of the fireplace opening. Colonial builders held the proportion much smaller, about 1/15 - 1/20 as at Stratford kitchen; fireplaces at Rolfe House, Surry County; Wythe House, Williamsburg, and numerous other examples. 40. This smaller colonial proportion caused smoking fireplaces. The modern proportion is less apt to do so. In designing the size of the chimney stack, the colonial proportion was worked out and a shape established which would conform to precedent, see under Chimney on Exterior Notes, and also accommodate the flue sizes thus determined. This was done and explains the present exterior shape of the chimney. The flues, however, were made larger and with their tile fall within the modern practice and proportion. The portions of the flues above the throat are of frankly modern type materials because hidden.

The under-fire was made of the same brick as the floor. Its pattern is worked out to conform with conventional colonial precedent as at Craig-Powell House on York Street, now wrecked, but recorded in the files of the Architectural Department. No hearth was provided as the brick paving of the floor served this purpose.

WINDOWS

See Exterior Notes of East Elevation, where details are covered except the stop bead and interior trim. Both these are from the example at the Office at Greenway, Charles City County. See also wall treatment above. The relation of the board dado, and window trim cutting into it and mitering with it are also from the latter building including the manner in which the dado cap returns on it self against the trim of the window. The material of the stop bead and trim was the same as the board dado - also as in the precedent.

DOOR AND TRIM

Exterior door. See East Elevation where all details of it are described except the interior trim. This was treated as were the windows and follows the same precedent for design and material.

METAL WORK ON DOOR

See Front Door, East Elevation for hardware.

COLOR

See Walls and Wall Covering for natural finish for interior woodwork. Since in the precedent quoted the wood was left completely untreated, the same was done here. No paint or oil was used, the wood being left to get color and finish from aging alone.

All plaster work on the walls was given coats of whitewash. This was customary treatment for plaster walls in colonial Virginia structures. Many documents in the files of the Department of Research and Record also prove this fact.

Floor boards, joists, headers, etc., of the second floor were left unfinished regarding paint or other color. This, too, was borne out by the above-quoted precedent.

STAIRS

In general the design of this stair was based on a Layton Studio photograph, Richmond, Virginia, of a small outbuilding enclosed stair used in a room with an exposed beamed ceiling. The details of this stair were described to the writer (S. P. Moorehead)by Walter M. Macomber, formerly resident architect of Colonial Williamsburg and an associate partner of Perry, Shaw and Hepburn. Mr. Macomber saw this stair and studied it and had Mr. Layton photograph it. Although he could not identify the place by name, Mr. Macomber said that it was in King George County. He did remember the details and construction very well.

The stair installed in the South Outbuilding was simplified considerably from the above precedent. In the Wythe Kitchen the precedent was more closely followed. See the report on the latter. So as not to be too similar to the Kitchen stair, the one in the South Outbuilding was simplified somewhat.

RISERS AND TREADS

As in the above precedent, the treads are simply rounded, otherwise unmolded for a nosing as at the stair at Walnut Valley, Surry County, Virginia. They were made of Yellow Pine as in the above precedent and as at the Wythe House and the Travis House rear stair now removed to Williamsburg Restoration, Incorporated, Warehouse.^*

NEWEL POST AND HANDRAIL

The newel post at the bottom of the stair is similar to precedent at the Ayscough Shop, Williamsburg; Walnut Valley, Surry County, Virginia, and the rear stair at the Travis House now in a collection of woodwork details preserved by Williamsburg Restoration, Incorporated. The intermediate newel post is handled as in the Layton photograph mentioned above. The free standing newel on the second floor has the same precedent in design as the bottom newel. All newels were made of Heart Long Leaf Yellow Pine as in above precedent.

The handrail both on first and second floors follow the precedent in design of similar rails at The Wigwam, Amelia County, and the Travis House rear stair. This, too, was of Heart Yellow Pine as used in the newel posts.

Handrails are all let into the posts with true mortices, tenons, and wood pins as in the above precedent.

BALUSTERS

These were omitted on the first floor and the handrail only was used as seen and noted by the writer at Rumford Academy building in King and Queen County, before it was torn down and similar to one 43. seen by the writer in 1931 at Claremont, Surry County, in one of the flanking outbuildings to the left facing the present entrance. On the second floor a beaded wide board was used like that on the Travis House former rear stair and a stair at the Brandon lumber house. This rail board was made of poplar in order to vary the woodwork of the stair as in the above precedent. It was let into the post with true mortice and tenon joint as in the above precedent.

STRINGER - STRING BOARD AND STRING ORNAMENT

The string of the bottom run is a closed string as at the Travis House rear stair. The cap mold of the string is a conventional type much like that in the original stairs at the John Blair House, the Moody House, and others in Williamsburg. The wall string is a continuation of the beaded baseboard of the room - which is the most usual treatment for this member in the period in this vicinity.

On the second run of the stair the outer string is composed of the diagonal beaded boarding of very wide boards running to the ceiling. In other words, the string, as such, is omitted, its place being taken by the sheathing. This treatment follows the stair in the above mentioned Layton photograph. The wall string remains as for the first floor. All these members are of B and Better Yellow Pine as in the quoted precedent. The wide boards have the same hand worked surfacing as for the board wainscot of the first floor - see above.

CLOSED OR OPEN STRING

See above.

LANDING (IF ANY)

(Floor - windows or openings on, if any - posts - handrail and balusters - "gallery board") Most of these items are covered in 44. the above text. The "gallery board" or treatment along the well as it passes through the second floor is as simple as possible. It is very similar to the original treatment at the stair at Walnut Valley, Surry County.

For painting, etc., the stair was treated as was the first floor - see above.

EQUIPMENT

For convenience, three electric outlets were installed as inconspicuously as possible in the baseboard. For further details of electric installation, location of conduits, etc., see Mechanical Drawings on file in the Architectural Department.

Provision was made for a possible future light outside the front door. This outlet at present is not in use.

No heating or plumbing were installed in this building. See General Files of Colonial Williamsburg Incorporated.

A small inconspicuous copper tube was installed about the room at the ceiling line. This operates a fire alarm system and is of the same kind as used in other Colonial Williamsburg, Incorporated, exhibition buildings as a defense against fire. It is a concession to modern demands, but is almost invisible to the eye.

FLOOR: SECOND

FLOOR

The floor was made of wide boards of B and Better Long Leaf Yellow Pine with as much edge grain showing as possible. This kind of flooring was conventionally used in the colonial period in Eastern Virginia for outbuildings as at Oakley kitchen, Lancaster County; Marmion outbuildings, King George County; kitchen at the present rectory, Accomac, Virginia. As in the above precedent the boards were installed with butt joints.

Since they were to be exposed from below and in order to simulate colonial surface appearance the bottoms of the boards were cut by band saw to produce straight saw cuts. Seventy per cent of these cuts were then removed by hand planing, the tops of the boards were given the usual machine planed surface. Eighteenth century boards of this type would have had the upper surface finished smooth by hand planing, but subsequent wear would eliminate the resulting slight irregularities. For this reason the machine planed surface was thought permissible. Exposing the bare floor boards and supporting joists was often used for outbuilding second floor treatment in the period as at Oakley kitchen, Lancaster County; Marmion outbuilding. This precedent indicated the common practice in less important structures of the period of using wide, random width boards without the bottom sizing or dressing at points where they rest on the joists as was customary in the better class construction in residences of the period (ie. as at the Wythe House original flooring).

FLOOR NAILS

These are modern machine manufactured cut nails known as New York flooring nails. They are very close to the typical local eighteenth century hand wrought flooring nails and present the same appearance after installation. The flooring was face nailed as in the above quoted precedent.

BEAMS

Like those in the colonial kitchen at Oakley, Lancaster County, the second floor joists were installed to be exposed showing the underside of the second floor boards. See above under "Floor." The joists were made approximately 4" x 8" with the bottom corners molded with ½" beads as in the above precedent. Headers at the 46. stair well and around the chimney breast were the same in design and joined to the joists by true moriced and tenoned joints held together with white oak pins whittled and driven by hand. The ends of the pegs were sharpened and so driven in as to project below the bottoms of the joists and headers thus exposing the sharp ends just as in the quoted precedent. This joinery was typical of the colonial precedent. The old 1726 mill at Providence Forge (now taken down and moved to a new site at Stratford) furnished excellent information for details of framing. It was practically all framed out in poplar wood, particularly for the joists which were also beaded as those in the Wythe outbuildings.^*

To simulate the surface finish which was so fine at the Providence Forge mill, the joists were sized out by band saw to provide straight saw cuts which match closely the conventional eighteenth century whip saw marks. About eighty percent of these were then removed by hand planing. After this was done, the beaded corners were run by hand with molding planes. Only the three exposed sides of the joists were so treated - see General Notes under Exterior.

The beams were left untreated as to paint or color as at Providence Forge Mill. See notes under Walls on First Floor.

WALLS AND WALL COVERING

The walls are plastered as in the several examples of precedent quoted above. See under this heading for first floor for description of plaster work.

BASEBOARD

This follows the above quoted precedent in design and also the second floor original baseboard in the Wythe House. See notes under Walls - First Floor.

CHAIR RAIL

None.

CORNICE

None.

PANELLING OR WAINSCOT

None.

MANTEL

None.

FIREPLACE AND HEARTH

None. In general eastern Virginia colonial small outbuildings a fireplace on the second floor was commonly but by no means invariably used. In places where a number of outbuildings occur, some would have fireplaces upstairs, others would not. Both the Wythe Kitchen and Laundry have second floor fireplaces so it was not felt essential here. See reports on these two buildings by the Architectural Department.

WINDOWS

There is only one - see South Elevation for design. The interior treatment of the first floor was repeated here. See, therefore, under First Floor Notes on Windows.

CLOSETS

None.

DOOR AND TRIM

None.

COLOR

Plasterwork as for first floor. Woodwork the same.

EQUIPMENT

This consists of two electric plug outlets placed as inconspicuously as possible in the baseboard. See general remarks under First Floor. See the same for fire alarm tubing.

GENERAL NOTES

The second floor room is very small. As it would be so poor for an exhibition space, it was treated very simply but in accordance with authentic precedent.

BASEMENT

None. See General Notes.

THE GEORGE WYTHE HOUSE PLOT PLAN
The location of the reconstructed outbuildings is shown and their relation with the house yards and garden. The house alone was existing when the restoration of Colonial Williamsburg was gotten under way. The house was restored, while the outbuildings were reconstructed, largely on old foundations.

Wythe House Kitchen