John Blair Kitchen Building, Duke of Gloucester Street, Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia
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The John Blair House and Kitchen (these images are of the kitchen building) are on the North side of Duke of Gloucester Street, the main thoroughfare of Colonial Williamsburg. The house, kitchen and wonderfully colorful garden were originally the home to a prominent family of Virginians. The Reverend James Blair (1655-1743) was the founder and first president of the College of William and Mary. He came to Virginia when he was 30 years old to be followed by his brother, Dr. Archibald Blair, five years later in 1690. Archibald’s son, John Blair Sr. received a ten thousand pound legacy from his uncle James, a considerable amount of money in those days. The Reverend James Blair also left his library and 500 pounds to the college.
John Blair Sr. (1689-1771), a Burgess and the auditor general of the colony of Virginia from 1728 to his death in 1771, was appointed to the Council in 1745. The Council was made up of the twelve leading colonists appointed for life by the King of England. It constituted the upper house of the colony’s legislation. The councilors also assisted the governor of the colony by acting as a council of state. John Blair Sr. became president of the Council. In this role he twice served as acting governor of the colony.
John’s son, John Blair Jr. (1732-1800), graduated from the College of William and Mary. He studied law in the Middle Temple in London, returning to the colony to practice law. He was elected to the House of Burgesses and later became clerk of the Council. He sat on the committee which drew up Virginia’s Declaration of Rights and the first state constitution. In 1787 he represented Virginia at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia where he was a firm advocate of a federal union. In 1789, George Washington appointed him to the U.S. Supreme Court.
John Blair Kitchen Building, Duke of Gloucester Street, Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia
– Click on the image to enlarge or purchase –
The original, easterly part of the John Blair house was built early in the eighteenth century making it one of the oldest buildings in Williamsburg. The kitchen with its huge chimney, shown prominently in these two images, is a reconstruction. The small, yet colorful formal garden is filled with an ever-changing assortment of herbs and flowers.
Click here to learn more about visiting Colonial Williamsburg
Twitter: ToadHollowPhoto
| August 29, 2013
I love this post, Mark, that home is just so lovely. Great details and textures in the wood and brick, and so much character! Really well done, my friend.
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| August 30, 2013
Many thanks, Toad.