Architectural Remains, Unit B, Structure 112, Jamestown, James City County, Virginia

Significance: The dwelling built by Sir John Harvey in the 1620s and expanded by Harvey, or Governor Sir William Berkeley, around 1640 is probably the only site whose life span matched that of New Towne (1620-98) on Jamestown Island. Initially an earthfast, timber frame building, Harvey or Berkeley improved it and converted the wood building into a larger, brick house measuring 51' x 33' with three principal rooms and several cellars in a leanto or shed. Likely it was one-story in height; two of the three rooms were heated. This house was damaged in a fire ca. 1656.

The house was substantially rebuilt in 1665 and was burned on September 19, 1676, during Bacon's Rebellion. It was likely rebuilt by 1684 and may have burned again 1698.

The site was excavated by John Cotter and Edward Jelks in 1954-55 and reexamined in 1993.

The first house is representative of the framing and building practices used in the Chesapeake that used hole-set or ground-standing posts and interrupted sills supported by brick footings as foundations for clapboard upper frames. Sections of the footings were incorporated into the later south foundation wall and so reveal the posts were set on six foot centers. This corresponds to construction techniques used in the brewhouse and apothecary (Structure 110, HABS No. VA-444) and at Flowerdew Hundred. Around 1640 this house was expanded and improved with brick walls. The original north wall was rebuilt for two chmineystacks and the shed added. Evidence of this period includes pipestems, quarrels, and both domestic and imported ceramic wares.

The rebuilding that followed the 1656 fire was extensive, and some suggest it served as the Colony's first statehouse although the evidence now leans toward Structure 144 in the Ludwell Statehouse complex as having that distinction. Nonetheless, architectural evidence for this building has striking parallels to the Maryland Statehouse including the square tiles used for the floor and the ornamental plasterwork. The building was raised to two stories, and incorporated a porch tower. It was made of brick and had large casement windows with cames and diamond-shaped quarrels. After 1676, it was rebuilt largely as it had been before the fire.
Unprocessed Field note material exists for this structure: FN-129
Survey number: HABS VA-445
Building/structure dates: ca. 1620 Initial Construction
Building/structure dates: before 1656 Subsequent Work
Building/structure dates: 1665-1676 Subsequent Work
Building/structure dates: 1684-1698 Subsequent Work