Travel for Master Builders: Trip 2 - Colonial Williamsburg

[@aaronpeta]

Your work educating the public on architectural values is so important. One of my favorite channels on KZbin.

[@BrentHull]

Thanks so much.

[@TanukiDigital]

I was here just this last Spring and it was beautiful. Some of the architecture is absolutely stunning.

[@BrentHull]

Agreed! 100%

[@stevemiller7949]

The whole world got lucky when Rockefeller Jr decided to fund Williamsburg.

[@BrentHull]

Very true.

[@JorgeVonninger]

Went here for a middle school field trip from southern York county Pennsylvania. Also went to Busch gardens the next day. Was the best field trip ever.

[@BrentHull]

Nice. A good combo.

[@JorgeVonninger]

​@@BrentHull I really appreciate your work by the way. I'm a drafter training to become an Architect through work experience here in Springfield Missouri. I want to specialize in traditional shingle-style homes and other classic styles someday. It's wonderful to get away from the modern stuff. Thank you for educating us.

[@bradwatson7324]

I’ve been several times; it truly is a magical place!

[@BrentHull]

Agreed! Thx.

[@richardporter6201]

Went to William and Mary and your comments very interesting. Funny how when you live there it all blends into the background and seems perfectly normal and not unique. No Bush Gardens stuff just a small Southern town. For example I never noticed the end detail on the roofs. We used to refer to The Main Street as DOG street, just a street you walked to go to the post office to see if mom had sent any cookies as a treat. Looking back it was a special four years in my life and I was very lucky to have experienced it.

[@BrentHull]

Wow, great feedback. Thx.

[@theofarmmanager267]

Very interesting, very well put together. In England, there are still a number of High Streets (main streets) that have the same feel. Tenterden High Street is one, albeit that, as it’s a living town, many of the buildings on the High Street are pubs, restaurants or shops. The amount of detail; the amount of accuracy in their building does vary from the houses of the labourers through to the merchants. As building foundations weren’t always used and certainly not to the depth now required, many buildings are something other than rectangular. Clay bricks really came into England in the 16th century and, like all such innovations, started with the richest and percolated down. The availability of local clays affected its use - so many rural areas were still using cob (dried mud/dung mixture), flint, timber long after brick became the habitual building product in cities. The size of bricks was certainly not uniform until the transport of bricks across greater distances became more popular. There are big differences in the sizes of bricks found in Roman buildings, Tudor, Victorian and currently. Just as the bonds used have changed and evolved. Flemish bond was the alternate use of headers and stretchers. This was very useful when building a double thickness wall (still called a 9” wall) as it tied both thicknesses together. But it obviously doesn’t allow for wall insulation. Therefore, when building using a Flemish bond now, the layers will use half headers on the face wall thus providing the aesthetic whilst allowing for modern day insulation and damp proof courses.

[@BrentHull]

Thanks as always.

[@tc9148]

Love it. Been there a dozen times over the years and took so many photos. Brent’s 5 things are so helpful. And don’t miss the nearby Carter’s Grove mansion that is spectacular, absolutely love the kitchen design there.

[@BrentHull]

True but CW sold Carter's groove and it is now in private hands. FYI

[@MYJ61]

The main street through Colonial Williamsburg is DOG (Duke Of Gloucester) Street. It is closed to motorized traffic except for emergency vehicles. It is absolutely a treasure on so many levels. Many buildings are open to the public and offer period correct merchandise for sale. If you go in December, the first Sunday evening is Grand Illumination. In the evening they shoot off fireworks at three different locations, and light candles in the windows for the Christmas season. During the day you can see decorations such as pineapples above the doorways.

[@richardporter6201]

Cool did not know that. When I went to school there it was regular street open to traffic.

[@BrentHull]

Nice. Thanks for sharing.

[@KMx108]

Wow, that brick! I've been to Colonial Wmsburg so many times and never fully appreciated the brickwork. The suggestion to sketch out what you see there is a great suggestion. Love this series. Thank you for sharing!

[@BrentHull]

Cool, thanks!

[@CrankyHermit]

Great points, Brent. I also like how each of the parts is sensitive to its context. The details fit with the style, materials and function of each structure, but also with its place in the whole transect of the village. There's more refinement, ornament and formality near the center of civic and commercial activity, while things become simpler and more rustic as you approach the rear lanes and edges of town. This applies to brickwork and millwork, window sizes, roof materials, fencing types, walls, gates and gardens, curbs, edgings and paving surfaces. Even the styles of signage, lampposts and other street furniture contribute to a harmonious, natural progression from semi-rural to semi-urban, private to public.

[@BrentHull]

Agreed!! thanks.

[@jonboy8181]

I live not too far from there, it’s beautiful. I grew up on the eastern shore of Virginia. The old houses there remind me of colonial Williamsburg.

[@BrentHull]

Yes, it's a regional architecture. Very special. Thanks.

[@MakerNoKY]

I’ve been there a few times in my life. The last time, when I could appreciate architectural elements, I had young kids and couldn’t take the time to study the details. I need a trip by myself or with other like-minded people.

[@BrentHull]

DO it. You'll learn alot.

[@MatthewFenty]

Perfect timing, I just arrived in Williamsburg today for a week. Excited to use your video as a helpful guide

[@BrentHull]

Have fun!

[@jacobwysopal5127]

Those are some very cool details Brent. The detail that cought my eye when i was there are the full round windows in a half round wall in the house of burgess.

[@BrentHull]

Yes. Awesome stuff.

[@swisschalet1658]

Awesome! Thanks

[@BrentHull]

Welcome.

[@thetubekid]

This is a great series. I'd love to hear more of your US architecture travel recommendations!

[@BrentHull]

Ok. Coming soon.

[@crossroadschronicles4647]

Great video. Spot on. Good to see you are in my neighborhood (little over an hour North from my location). Can you think about doing “meet and greet” events as you travel the US?

[@613kc]

Yes! I 2nd.

[@BrentHull]

Great suggestion! THx

[@michaelbissen1946]

Cool I've always wanted to go there. Better add to my bucket list. Thanks Brent

[@BrentHull]

Agreed! It's worth it.

[@artemioquintero7866]

Bret love your videos I'm a framer who aspires to be a builder one day and build new old houses like you. Could you do a video on how to start sketching? Or is it something you just go for and learn as you go. Thank you sir.

[@BrentHull]

Yes, sir. My son wants to sketch as well as he comes into the business. I would start sketching and buy a book on sketching. Idiot's guide kind of book. You need to learn the basics. But it is a skill like any other and you just need to make it a habit. Good luck.

[@venus_envy]

Always wanted to visit this place. As well as Winterthur!

[@BrentHull]

You need to go.

[@MYJ61]

My brother is a horticulturalist and said Winterthur is quite the treasure as well.

[@erictheguy6646]

Interesting about the siding details. I was went to cape cod over the summer and photographed some similar interesting details where the rake board protrudes and is cut to a profile that matches the gutters. I dont believe these colonial buildings even had gutters but it seemed to be almost ubiquitous with a certain style of home. Also i remember on a tour of one home they pointed out that they purposefully reduced the exposure of the siding in order to give the home more of sense of grandness

[@BrentHull]

Yes, cool things we used to do in the past that we no longer practice. . Thanks for sharing.

[@josephhickman9637]

Thanks Brent. You really are a historian. Williamsburg is awesome. Virginia is an architectural dream. Check out Mount Vernon where Washington use to live

[@kurtvonfricken6829]

Yes, and someone explain how the front door is off center! (I know there is a reason but I can’t remember. Jefferson would never accept that!)

[@BrentHull]

Agreed. Thanks.

[@pgadeb]

Definitely on the bucket list! The detail is incredible - they really were master builders and we need to relearn the trades. Thank you for making it fun and inspiring a new generation. We bought a 1769 colonial in CT and want to be good stewards...lot of deferred maintenance to deal with - ever come to New England?

[@BrentHull]

Good luck. Yes, I'm there a couple of times a year. Cheers.

[@JoshPiland]

Pediments!

[@BrentHull]

Yes. THanks.

[@homesteadorbust]

Bret can you do a video on the colonial proportions and key measurements If someone was to recreate this style. Hard to find on the internet and not sure which books to get on the subject.

[@homesteadorbust]

As I write that he literally goes into half of what I meant.....guess I should save all comments till the end😅

[@BrentHull]

Glad I covered it. Thx

[@eprohoda]

wow~ you uploaded unusual ! adios~ 🤩

[@BrentHull]

ok

[@kellytunney3093]

Longtime watcher, first time commenter! You drew attention to the bead on the wood siding at 5:19 - what would be the purpose of that? I found one source that said it prevents splintering, and a few that said it's decorative, but it seems like a LOT of additional mill work to me. My own house is brick so I don't know much about siding. Thanks! Love all your videos and I'm hoping to get some of your books soon!

[@BrentHull]

Thanks for commenting. Good question. I don't understand how it would prevent splintering. I do know that the beading plane was one of the most common planes. I would say it was purely decorative. Cost more yes but looked a lot better.

[@brianpoole3532]

Hey Brent...I love what your doing and love watching all of your content..:-) But I have to point out that the Governor's Palace was built in 1706...Thomas Jefferson wasn't born until 1743....the drawings he did of the Palace was when he was the governor of Virginia in 1779 and wanted to renovate the building in a more Neo-Classical style... that he loved so much...but these renovations never happened..so the doodle that he drew was just changes he wanted to do...he was not the architect of the building it self...Thanks!

[@BrentHull]

Thanks.