Timber at Jamestown was plentiful, so many houses, especially in the
early years, were of frame construction. During the first decade or two,
house construction reflected a primitive use found ready at hand, such
as saplings for a sort of framing, and use of branches, leafage, bark,
and animal skins. During these early years--when the settlers were
having such a difficult time staying alive--mud walls, wattle and daub,
and coarse marshgrass thatch were used. Out of these years of
improvising, construction with squared posts, and later with quarterings
(studs), came into practice. There was probably little thought of
plastering walls during the first two decades, and when plastering was
adopted, clay, or clay mixed with oyster-shell lime, was first used. The
early floors were of clay, and such floors continued to be used in the
humbler dwellings throughout the 1600's. It can be assumed that most of
the dwellings, or shelters, of the Jamestown settlers, certainly until
about 1630, had a rough and primitive appearance.
After Jamestown had attained some degree of permanency, many houses were
built of brick. It is quite clear from documentary records and
archeological remains, that the colonists not only made their own
brick, but that the process, as well as the finished products, followed
closely the English method. Four brick kilns were discovered on
Jamestown Island during archeological explorations.
[Illustration: AN EARLY JAMESTOWN HOUSE. (Conjectural sketch by Sidney
E. King.)]
[Illustration: A BRICK HOUSE AT JAMESTOWN, ABOUT 1640. (Conjectural
sketch by Sidney E. King.)]
[Illustration: THE MAJORITY OF THE LOCKS AND KEYS USED IN THE EARLY
HOUSES WERE IMPORTED FROM ENGLAND.]
[Illustration: A FEW 17TH-CENTURY HANDWROUGHT HINGES IN THE JAMESTOWN
COLLECTION.]