Colonial Williamsburg Digital Library

Excavation

Trenches were dug down to hardpan over the area north and east of the present house. Ground between the trenches was probed

Foundations discovered constitute three areas: the old east wing, and two groups of outbuildings which are divided by a marl walk running north from the main house.

First Kitchen

Of three successive kitchens which have left traces along the west property line, north of the house, the earliest was a rectangular wooden structure 19 x 32 feet in plan, with a large chimney¹ at north end, built flush against the inside of the wall. Fireplace was off center to west, but flues may have been sloped to bring chimney out of roof at center.²

It is impossible to discover whether this kitchen had another chimney at the south end, since chimney construction of later date in this area had destroyed any possible evidence.

The 9-inch foundations indicate that the structure was wooden. Parts remain of all four outside walls. Interior foundations were also found, outlining divisions into three cells along the west side and a corridor along the east. These foundations are of unknown purpose. It seems unlikely that they could represent interior partition walls contemporary with the chimney.³

Second Kitchen

The foundation of a second chimney⁴ lies just north of the first. This chimney belonged to a second kitchen, of which only part of the east wall and perhaps of the north⁵, was 3 found. The east wall, 13 inches thick, is laid on a 21-inch spread footing.¹

To the southeast are foundations of three walls and a chimney, which seem to represent a later addition to the same building.² A corner was found where the newer wall, at the bottom, overlaps the footings of the older, and higher up makes a flush instead of a bonded joint.

The added room forms the leg of an L. Its walls measure 13 inches (on the south and east) and 17 inches (on the north). The difference is not explained.

The chimney is inside, and bonds with the walls.

Third Kitchen

A third set of foundation walls is built partly on the first. The plan is rectangular. The 13-inch brickwork necessarily projects from the 9" wall of the first foundation, but the inside faces of the two line up on the west side, and line up within 2 inches on the east.³ To northward this third foundation is not traceable beyond the middle of the first kitchen.⁴ Across the south wall of the first kitchen, laid against it on the outside, was found a cross wall, formed by a double chimney (belonging to the third kitchen) with wing walls flanking its south face.⁵ The south 4 fireplace opening of this chimney was thus flush with the wing walls, while to the north the chimney projected into the room the whole depth of both fireplaces. The south fireplace opened into a room the floor of which was raised above the brick vault. Thirteen-inch walls to west, south, and east are well preserved up to a few inches below present grade. Below the vault (the axis of which runs north and wouth) was a low chamber¹ believed to have been used as a wine cellar.²

Access to the wine cellar was provided by a stairway of brick, with wooden nosings, which started up at the wall line on the south, and which was probably protected by a cellar door. This stair is centered on the vault, and the common center is 2 feet west of the center of the building.

The vault, 9 inches thick, springs from dwarf walls at a level about 18 inches above the original floor. It appears to be built about three centers, on radii of 6 feet and 2 feet more or less. Buttresses number three on each side, two of them engaged with the foundations to north and south, and one at center.

Against the east wall of the wine cellar butts a foundation of 5-foot projection and 12 feet in length, which probably supported steps, a platform, or both, giving access to the third kitchen.

Probable Floor Levels

The brick underfires of the first and second kitchen³ were at the level of the original grade, or slightly below it. 5 Both were laid on ashes, which may mean that the original hearth was of earth at a lower level. The floor of both kitchens was doubtless at the hearth level. No traces of floor paving were found, and it may be that both kitchens had floors of packed earth.

The third kitchen had a higher floor level over the wine-cellar in order to clear the vault, which rose more than a foot higher than grade. This floor may have been of brick supported by the vault. The floor in the remainder of the building was probably held to the same level¹, but no doubt was of ordinary wood construction.

No traces of hearths were found in front of any of the kitchen fireplaces.² In the first and second kitchens the earth floor or loose stones may have served. In the third kitchen, where the floors were raised, the hearths were no doubt destroyed with the floors.

Smokehouse (?)

Northeast of the kitchen was found part of the 9-inch brick foundation of a building just over 12 feet wide and of indeterminate length. Only the southern portion of this foundation could be uncovered, the remainder lying across the present property line.

A pathway, surfaced with marl, was traced along the east side of the kitchen³ and almost as far north as this outbuilding.

The use of this building cannot be deduced from the available evidence. But its proximity to the kitchen suggests that it may have been a smokehouse, wood-house, or other outbuilding.

The brickwork resembles that of the second kitchen, with which it is probably contemporary.

Forge

At the northwest corner of the north chimney of the second kitchen is a foundation which seems to represent a fire chamber of great depth.¹ Inside was found a layer of ashes 12 inches deep. The foundation might have served for a forge, but evidence is too scanty to allow of definite conclusions. No traces of walls were found.

This foundation is too close to those of the kitchen chimneys to allow convenient circulation between them. It therefore seems doubtful whether the structure here indicated was in existence at the same time as the first or the second kitchen. It may have stood during the period of the third kitchen.

Chimney at South

Just south of the basement steps of the third kitchen is a foundation which has the size and shape of a kitchen chimney. ² Some ashes were found here, but no traces of underfire paving. A row of brick on edge, stretching north from the east breast of the foundation, may be a wall foundation. A short length of 4-inch brick foundation on the west is of unknown purpose.

A patch of brick paving near the basement stair may have been part of the floor in front of this chimney.

This chimney probably belonged to an outbuilding of the period of the first or second kitchen. The third kitchen extends too far south to have been contemporary.

Covered Way

A covered passage is known to have existed between the main house and the kitchen.¹ Traces of its foundations remain, bearing considerably east of south and west of north.

Since the floor of the third kitchen² was near the level of the first floor of the main house, it may be assumed that the connecting passage had a level not more than one step down from the lower of the two (which was the kitchen), and very likely had the same level.

The comparatively light cross traffic might be provided for by steps, anywhere in the length of the passage.

On the east side are the irregularly spaced foundations of three piers 17 inches square, and a longer foundation near the center. The latter may have determined the location of the one or two steps which were probably required to reach grade.³

One or two steps also probably existed on the west side, but there is no definite evidence to establish their location.⁴

The slight remains of foundations on the west consist of 9-inch brickwork, which suggests that the wall above was continuous, rather than of the post construction which the piers on 8 the opposite side seems to indicate. It is possible that the passageway had a screen wall, pierced by windows and a door, on the west (the side exposed both to public view and to the prevailing winter wind), and free-standing posts or columns on the east.

The Covered Way may have been built later than the kitchen, for its construction must have thrown into disuse the stoop east of the wine-cellar.¹

Service Entrances to House²

Three sets of foundations at the south end of the Covered Way represent service entrances of different periods.

1. The earliest of these consists of brick steps (formerly with wood nosings) down from grade, and the remains of a basement areaway against the house. These foundations undoubtedly antedate the Covered Way, since one of the piers of the latter was built against the center of the steps.

These steps started at grade level, and were undoubtedly reached by a marl-surfaced pathway³ of which traces were found east of the kitchen.

The east edge of the path was clearly marked, and lined exactly with the east edge of the steps.

These steps are considerably farther away from the house wall than are those of the usual basement bulkhead entrance.

This may indicate that they entered under the floor of a porch at first floor level. Such a porch could have been reached by steps from the side. But there is no evidence of such steps. The first-floor house wall has not been investigated for evidence of an opening; but if an opening is found, it would be ascribed to the period of the later porch and not necessarily to this earlier period.

There may have been an area at the foot of the steps, with floor at basement level, and roof aligned with bulkhead covering over steps (when in closed position). But here again, only surmise is possible.

2. Other foundations indicate a passage which gave access, but means of stairs down from grade on the west, to an area under the north end of the Covered Way, which communicated with the basement of the house. Remains of these steps are scanty, but the retaining wall which formed an areaway at the bottom is plainly indicated.

This entry must have had approximately the same term of existence as the Covered Way. Thus at this time the house had service entrances one above the other, on two levels, basement and first floor.¹

3. A third foundation on this site has the characteristics of late work, and seems to represent a porch measuring about 10 x 11 feet, constructed after the Covered Way had disappeared. Two 4-inch projections on the outside of the north foundation wall, while of unknown purpose, may be buttresses of spread footings. Since there are no evidences of any opening in this foundation, it seems probable that with its construction the older basement 10 entrance was closed,¹ the porch giving access to the first floor only.

East Basement Steps²

Immediately east of the porch is a flight of brick steps with provision for wood nosings, which goes down from grade to reach basement floor level near the line of the basement wall. The former opening in this wall has been bricked up.

The work appears to be of late date³, and may have been executed to provide access to the basement at the time when the old entrance under the Covered Way was closed.

Very likely the old undergrade entrance had constituted a drainage problem, whether a cellar door was provided or not. The new location may have been thought better protected.

Storehouse¹

East of the marl walk, and opposite the north end of the kitchen foundations, are the remains of three outbuildings superimposed on each other. The purpose and date of these buildings can only be conjectured, although it is possible that one of them was the storehouse mentioned in the inventory of 1776.² All three foundations are of 9-inch brickwork.

1. The earliest foundation measures about 8½ x 16 feet. At its south end is a cross wall enclosing a space less than 3 feet wide. Remains of crushed brick paving were found on both sides of this cross wall.

2. Of the second foundation there remains only the west and south walls; and the northwest corner, which indicates that the building was over 22 feet long. The south wall is out of perpendicular to the west wall, which is built partly on the west wall of the first foundation.³

3. A third foundation, of late construction, seems to represent an outbuilding about 12 feet square, with a 7-foot addition on the north side, probably of still later date. The west wall of this building is only about 11 feet from the marl path, while the first and second walls are more than 15 feet distant. The south wall of the third foundation crosses the west walls of the other two.¹ Its east wall rests partly on the first east wall.

Shed²

Separated by 3 feet from the nearest storehouse foundation, and by 13 feet from the marl walk, remains of another outbuilding were found opposite the southeast addition to the second kitchen. Four 9-inch walls were traced, defining a building which measured about 10 x 14 feet. Paving of brickbats was found inside. Earlier work under parts of the north and east walls indicates that the building was destroyed and rebuilt on the same site³, or perhaps that the same building was raised to a higher level.

Two short 9-inch foundations project from the west wall south of center, but are not bonded with the wall. They may have supported a small stoop, or a narrow flight of steps.

The brickwork in this foundation is of an early character as that in the first storehouse foundation. The east wall of this foundation lines with that of the third storehouse.⁴ Hence the life of the building or buildings here indicated may 13 have spanned that of all three storehouses.

This building cannot be positively identified, but it may be the shed mentioned in Humphrey Harwood's account for 1777.¹

Chimney⁵

The chimney foundation is built against the inside of 14 the north wall, which is here interrupted as if the chimney made the wall unnecessary. At basement level a fireplace was formed facing west, but on the east the chimney face was solidly built up. The underfire gave evidence of two levels of paving. Patches of the lower, earlier pavement were also found in or near each corner of the basement. The chimney was deep enough from west to east to have allowed for two fireplaces upstairs, back to back. The east and west faces of the chimney made obtuse angles with the north wall, so that the fireplaces would throw their heat more directly into the rooms.

East Wing Basement Stair¹

Brick stairs with wood nosings, between 9-inch retaining walls, went down from grade to the basement floor at the east end of the original building, near the south corner.

Of the Wind Mill mentioned in the Robertson-Holloway deed of 1723, no traces whatever were discovered.

Also notable is the absence of a Well.²

Either or both of these constructions may have been located in the northward prolongation of the property.

Stable

On the north side of Scotland Street, lying across the present extension of North England Street, the Frenchman's map shows a long building which is identified in the Research Report (p. 15) as the Randolph stable.

The center of this site had been disturbed by the extension of the street, and the west end was inaccessible because it was privately rented. The east end, however, was excavated in July, 1938. Findings consisted of:

• (a)A small patch of paving--bricks laid on edge.
• (b)A fill, 3 x6 feet in extent, containing brickbats and shell mortar.
• (c)A fill 2 feet square, 3 feet 6 inches deep with the same contents.
• (d) Small detached areas of crushed brick.

No traces of walls were found.

CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE, BASED ON
REPORT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF RESEARCH AND RECORD
July 26, 1938