Colonial Williamsburg Foundation Library Research Report Series - 1195
Colonial Williamsburg Foundation Library
Williamsburg, Virginia
1990
| HOUSE: | Ryland Kitchen |
|---|---|
| RECORD BY: | Arch'l Dept |
| LOCATION: | Block x |
| WRITTEN BY: | E. M. F. |
| DATE OF RECORD: |
The following data were used in determining the exterior appearance of this structure:
Colonial House No 133, Architectural Notes - Department of Research and Record. Colonial Williamsburg Inc. Dated ?
Note: Contains tracing of insurance plat of 1806 The original of which was consulted by architectural Department in photostat form.
Folder of field notes - not (now) on file in Architectural Department.
Note: These relate to archeological and architectural investigations.
The wrecking of a modern building on this site was begun in _____ and was followed by archeological excavations. Those excavations continued until September 1941. Study and research 2 for preparation of sketches was commenced in July, 1941, followed by preparation of working drawing, details and specifications, which were completed in November 1941. Construction was begun in ____ and continued thru to ____ when it was completed.
Of the specifications and drawings prepared for the construction of this building the specifications should be read by anyone seeking complete information about the materials scope of work, and type of work invalued. The drawings themselves are in great detail. These too, should be consulted. A list-of these is given below. Also, the general correspondence files should be consulted to get the background of the work, its costs and approval, policies of tenure, maintenance and the practical considerations of construction, plumbing, heating etc.
The drawings are as follows:
| Foundation & Second Floor Framing Plans | 1 |
| First & Second Floor Plans | 2 |
| North and South Elevs | 3 |
| South and West Elevs | |
| Heating Plumbing & Electrical | H P E - 1 |
| Chimney Details | 100 |
| Stair Details & North Chimney Section | 101 |
| Details of Dormers, Doors Vos 102 & 103 and Window Schedule | 200 |
| Details of Windows & Doors 101 - 104 and Door Schedule | 201 |
| Stair and Door Details | 202 |
| F. S. Cornice, End Board & Corner Boards | 203 |
| Plans and Elevations | M-1 |
Since no photographs or pictorial data of any sort existed of this building the exterior appearance of this building was necessarily hypothetical. Analysis of the foundations uncovered was the main consideration 3 in determining the exterior features. Of the several periods of foundations uncovered at this site; the ones coinciding with the building as shown on the Frenchman's Map and the same building of the insurance plat of 1806 were used. This establishes the building as of the same period as the main house with the North & South porches as restored. The South chimney. The insurance plat named the entire building "kitchen" but the foundations indicated the North chimney to have probably been a forge chimney and the South chimney the kitchen chimney. A cross wall indicated the probable original North Wall of the Kitchen, the forge then being an addition to this building. This was the basis for the design of this building. The kitchen portion was made similar to known 18th. century models and the forge was designed to give the appearance of a utilitarian blacksmiths shop. The details are taken up separately by Elevations:-
Round butt asbestos shingles similar to those used on the main house were used here. The theory being that as in 18th. century buildings of a contemporary group the roofs were similar. This was verified on this lot. On the old Pricey building a few original shingles were found to be similar to the originals from the main house.
The dormers are similar in detail to those of the west wing of the Coke -Garrett house in Williamsburg. The glass size and Mouldings are similar to those used on the dormers of the Main house. The spacing of these dormers follows the thought previously mentioned. The two to the South being spaced as in small colonial outbuildings presenting a regular pattern until the openings in the first floor walls. The third dormer to the east was placed in the center of the remaining roof space. This was done to express the Northern portion to have been an addition, and in the second to have been probably used as a storage room over the forge.
The Cornice mouldings are similar to the antique and necessary new moulding used on the North Cornice of the Main house. The projection and height of this cornice was proportioned to the site of the building as was done in known 18th. century works.
Since 18th. century Williamsburg buildings did not have gutters or leaders at the cornice none was used here. The usual 18th. century method of shedding roof water from the buildings was used. This consisted of a row of bricks at grade directly under the cornice. These bricks and the grade are pitched away from the building to shed the water into the gutter at the edge of the street paving.
Weatherboards The beaded weatherboards on the Southern portion are similar to those used on the Main house.
Flush Boards On additions to and on outbuilding of the colonial period, flush boards were often used. This is particularly true of the more utilitarian buildings such as shops, stables, smoke houses etc. They were therefore used on the northern portion in order to impart shop character and thus express the foundations and the apparent use of this portion of the building.
Brickwork Since the existing foundations for this wall were extremely fragmentary a new brick foundation on a concrete footing was built along the line of the old wall. The exposed brick in this wall was made by hand to match the antique brick in size and color.
A simple platform of flagstone found on this property was used here as access from grade to the first floor. Evidence for any sort of stoop was lacking, but since fragmentary evidence existed even for the walls it seems safe to assume that some sort of step or stoop occurred here. This stoop is of typical 18th. century character.
(South Section) This door was made similar in all respects to the existing antique door on the North Elevation of the Main house.
(North Section) These doors were made of typical 18th. type of a size to accommodate known 18th. century horse drawn vehicles. Since this building is too near the street to allow for an outside work space on the street side, these doors and the ones on the West allowed passage for vehicles to a work space on the West side of the building.
South Window This window is similar in detail to the antique windows on the 2nd. fl. West elevation of the main house. A 15 light window rather than a 12 light was used in order to be more typical of 18th. century kitchen buildings.
North Window In order to express the shop character of this part of the building a large 20 light window of typical 18th. century detail was used. Evidence for such a window was found at the Cole Shop in Williamsburg.
A simple shutter of 18th. century type was used on the 1st. floor windows they are of flush beaded boards with lattens on the exterior side when closed. These are similar to 18th. century shutters found in Fredericksburg, Virginia.
See North and South Elevation
See North and South Elevations
See North and South Elevations
Wide corner boards similar to those found on the Travis House in Williamsburg and many of the utilitarian type 18th. century buildings were used on this building.
Painting
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Weatherboards and Foundation Walls; See East Elevation.
None
Small four light windows in the gable ends of outbuildings was a very usual feature during the 18th. century. These two windows follow the typical colonial type.
None
None
At the time of investigation a chimney of the early 19th. century period existed. Careful consideration was given to the possibilities of retaining this chimney which was a good example of the period it represented. Examination of the brick work showed this chimney to have been built of salvage brick and several courses of the brickwork below and above grade were of an earlier bond and period than the upper parts. This lead to the conclusion that this existing chimney was probably built on the foundations of an earlier colonial chimney. Studies of a building to tie into this existing chimney was made, but it seems unwise to build a structure of such late character on a site with so many buildings of the colonial period. In addition to this the existing chimney would have required considerable repair and much rebuilding in order to make it safe according to modern standards for use. Therefore it was decided to demolish the present chimney, and build a new along the lines of colonial examples.
Typical tapered and beaded boards were used, following the usual type used on 18th. century buildings.
These features as on the main house were adapted from the existing 18th. century house called the West House at Yorktown,Virginia.
General Notes:
All features on this Elevation follow in general the explanations set out under the East Elevation. With the exception of the following.
On this elevation the archeological excavations revealed a true brick gutter to have extended the length of the building. This was duplicated in the reconstruction of this building.
General Notes:
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were used on this elevation on the the theory that the colonial builders reused the weatherboards from the original North Elevation of the Kitchen when the forge wing was built.
Same as East Elevation
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None
As previously mentioned the chimney at this end of the building appeared from the evidence to have been a forge type hearth and chimney. Since the portion above the roof is the only part exposed this was made to appear like a single large flue from a hearth below.
See South Elevation
See East Elevation
General Notes
The restoration of this building was primarily an exterior restoration. The disposition of the interior spaces was determined by obligations to the life tenants of this property. Their requirements were: storage for two cars on the property, recreation room, maids room and bath. The exterior design of this building made it possible to accommodate but one of the two cars. The other requirements were easily satisfied. The details such as stair, doors, trim, etc. were made similar to known 18th. century examples, the mouldings were made similar to antique moulding found in the main house.