Armoury kitchen in 1776 (looking north-west).
Welcome to our third Readers’ Questions blog post! Periodically during the Armoury project, we assemble your questions about the reconstruction and compile the answers into a blog entry.
Although the kitchen is nearing completion, a few blog readers have requested a review of the chimney construction process. Ryan asked “I missed most of the construction of the fireplace and chimney, and for the life of me cannot find any good sources or information on 18th century fireplace and chimney construction. Can Matt Webster or someone else recommend a source of info where the CW architects go to when they’re designing a period residential fireplace/chimney from scratch, for modern construction with period correct bricks and mortar?” While Dick and Martha, a number of weeks ago, commented “During the shift of the scaffolding, we missed the brick-laying – the details of supporting the front three rows of bricks as well as developing the smoke chamber. Is there any chance of putting the architect’s drawings for this fireplace/chimney plan on your blog site for us to see? There is so little construction information about early historic fireplaces out there for your interested guests to review and use.”
These are questions that seemed best answered though a “photo essay” incorporating images taken by Project Manager, Clyde Kestner during the construction process. And, of course, we have had to enlist the expertise of Matt Webster!
Matt says, “Colonial Williamsburg does a tremendous amount of research. The chimney designs you see are based on surveys of hundreds of 18th century buildings. You can find many of the reports in our library (the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library), which anyone can visit. Also, you can visit the website for the Historic American Building Survey and see drawings of buildings to get details.
We make many of our materials here. There are companies making building lime now that you can talk to. When we need brick we generally go to Old Carolina Brick. Hope this helps!”
- Armoury kitchen in 1776 (looking north-west).
Photo credits: Clyde Kestner
Anton Pecha says
I was wondering why the chimney is free standing after the 2nd floor fireplace. Most of Williamsburg chimneys have the same design. While most modern buildings have the chimney attached to the building all the way to the roof. Is this just an architectural design of the period or is there another reason?
Anton, great question! Architectural Historian Willie Graham provided the following answer:
“Pushing the stack off the building when the chimney was on the outside was an early convention that probably arose from practical concerns. Wooden chimneys, which were common in the 17th century, were always in danger of catching fire and so were often designed with a gap between the stack and the building. This may have helped inform what the design of exterior brick chimneys would look like once they became common. Stacks tend to be only half course wide, providing little protection between the wall of the chimney and the gable frame and siding, and so there was added benefit in creating a space between the two.
Not all stacks are pushed away, however-among the variety are that are not pushed away are ones with T-stacks (that is, T in cross section) for chimneys that are not particularly deep. The inner portion of the T is where the second-floor fireplace flue is located. T stacks are an early phenomenon that slowly goes out of fashion. Moving the flue into the main stack allowed more room between the stack and the gable.
Detached stacks also drift from fashion in the early 1800s, but so do exterior chimneys, which are increasingly relegated to service and back buildings in the 19th century.”
Rick Brouse says
OK….now THAT roving camera view is unique! Is that the Crow Cam on the peak Mary Stith House?
Rick,
You’ve got it exactly right! We’re “broadcasting” from the second floor window of the Stith shop. Quite an impressive view (and hole!), isn’t it?
Hi Ryan,
There are three flue liners to comply with building code which stipulates a specific flue “cross sectional area” that (in this case) must fit within an authentically proportioned chimney. There is no bake oven in the Anderson kitchen.
Ryan says
I have to ask - why 3 flue tiles? Is there a baking oven that is separately vented? I didn’t see a baking oven on the photos of the fireplace. (I understand one of them is for the fireplace in the garret).
Thanks!
Dick & Martha says
Thanks so much for sharing the additional photos and information on the chimney construction. We will be interested in visiting the Library during our next time at CWF. As always we look forward to seeing the continuation of the Anderson Forge Project.
Robin and Rick, the four concrete “piers” will serve as the foundation bases for the four forges in the main Armoury building as Rick surmised. Recent research has shown that the two northernmost forges (or the ones closer to the Roving Cam) were in slightly different locations than in the previous blacksmith shop, so those bases have been newly-poured for this project.
According to Project Manager Clyde Kestner, “the two southernmost (farthest from camera) forge bases are at the same location as in the just demolished Blacksmith Shop and we had salvaged the two concrete base platforms in hopes of reusing them. However it was recently discovered (after the box forms for the piers were installed) that the old concrete base platforms were too “soft” for reuse so we are removing them today and will form and re-pour new 3500 psi concrete bases and piers shortly.”
Rick Brouse says
Robin, I’m no authority to answer your question about the 4 piers - but I “THINk” they are the foundations for the new forges (but I must say, If I am right, those are some “monster” foundations). We, of course, will wait on the final explantion(s) from our wonderful CW friends. And then along the same line of center pier questions….what is actually happening at the other end of the camera location? It looked like forms were there - but not filled with concrete - now it appears they are being moved. Perhaps a roving camera move to the other end?
Robin McClarren says
On current “Roving Cam” view, what is being built at that site? Was curious about the 4 piers in the center that were framed and poured, what will be built upon those? Thank you for the fascinating views! Can’t wait to see everything soon, we are counting down! 🙂
I have often thought that a book of this restoration with the dig ,bio of Anderson and the cause complete with the great photographs we have seen along the ways should be forthcoming.
I have been very lucky to have many pictorial books from CWF over the 36 years my wife and I have collected complete with one printed in 1935 that was given to us by a couple we stayed
with on one visit.I intend to pass them on.Now with that said,
I think this volume should have pictures of the staff and crew
including Eleanor.Thank you
For anyone interested in architectural reports, many of the Foundation’s research reports are also available online in the Digital Library: http://research.history.org/DigitalLibrary/BrowseRR.cfm. To view all of the architectural reports, choose Search by Report Type and then select Architectural from the dropdown list at the top of the page. To locate reports for a specific property, the Search by Map option allows users to click on sites in Williamsburg to find associated reports.
Thanks for the link I did not know about that and there is even archeology reports. I will enjoy looking up and reading about most of the buildings in CW. Thanks again, keep the info coming, very interesting.
Ryan says
What a treasure trove. Thanks very much.
Ryan says
Thank you so much. Great information.
Awesome pictures, those guys did a geat job on the fireplace. I forgot the orginal hearth was raised to pour a footer. The pictures are great, thanks for posting.