My short visit to Williamsburg resulted in a lot of pix and short videos. For those who have never visited Colonial Williamsburg, this renovated Virginia city evokes the 18th century just prior to the American Revolution. I visited on a glorious April day, just when the shops were about to close, and saw workers dressed in Colonial garb ending their day and closing up shop. I witnessed a juxtaposition of old/new, with modern-day people re-enacting chores and professions as if they lived during Thomas Jefferson’s and Benjamin Franklin’s time. This very short 18-second clip shows a female silversmith apprentice. My camera panned to her shoes, which she admitted were quite worn, perhaps more than was authentic!
From 1699-1780 there were 15, possibly 16, silversmiths in Williamsburg. There was a strong preference among wealthy planters for importing large silverware from London. – Silversmith
I walked further down the street and saw this shopkeeper locking up the Prentis and walking home. Prentis shops in and around the historic section sell hand crafted goods made in the traditional way. Other than the absence of horses and carts, the scene could have been lifted straight out of the 18th Century.
This clickable map shows what a pitifully small section I walked (from the Capitol to Botetourt street and the two parallel streets to the Duke of Gloucester Street). I have seen most of Williamsburg over the years, for I celebrated one of my wedding anniversaries in this city and got to explore it quite a bit then.
Workers in back of Shields Tavern
I concentrated on walking in portions of Williamsburg that I had not much explored before, which was the section closest to the Capitol.
Sign of the cabinet maker
Many of the walkways are covered by either gravel or crushed oyster shells, a common commodity in Virginia’s tidewater area.
The cabinet maker’s workshop
The cabinet maker is situated on Nicholson Street, which is parallel to the main drag, the Duke of Gloucester Street, where the Barber and Peruke Maker’s shop can be found.
Barber and Peruke Maker
You can see images of the shop interiors if you click on the tour and find the shop you are interested in.
A peruke is a periwig, popular with men during the 18th and 19th centuries.
Here is the official Williamsburg link to the Barber and Peruke Maker
Working gent
While I met him on the porch of the Barber and Peruke Maker, this gentleman was simply making a delivery and did not work there.
This building was quite new to me. No wonder, since it was reconstructed a mere 4-5 years ago. It has been at least 8 years since I last wandered around the historic district.
Chatting outside the coffee house
I loved this man’s pose.
Outside the milliner’s shop
The milliner’s hats can be purchased at the store or at a stall in the market place.
Inside the milliner’s shop
One needs to purchase a series of tickets before entering a shop. Since I had not done so, I could only peek through the windows (made with hand blown glass). Thus the rather fuzzy image of the shop keeper tidying up before closing the store.
Chatting to tourists about life as a black man in Colonial Virginia
All the workers in Williamsburg are willing to chat with tourists. I took this image when this man was in deep discussion with someone, who was peppering him with questions. I admired his patience.
A comely maid walks home after a long day.
The sun shone through the trees on what I consider a perfect spring evening. In a few short weeks, hot humid days will descend upon Virginia.
All the staff are friendly and willing to pose
At the end of a long day, the workers returning to their real 21st century lives walk through a quiet town towards their parked cars. The following video captures only the sound of the birds and breezes. The loudest music comes from the male cardinal who, this time of year, is quite loud in claiming his territory. You can also hear the phoebe. The sheep are Leicester long haired sheep.
Every day the sound of fifes and drums pierce the air. I had wondered where all the visitors had gone. Why, to watch the marching band and to walk with them!
Colonial Williamsburg’s field musicians are drawn from a waiting list of young community applicants. Boys and girls begin their education in military music at age 10 and practice weekly for the next eight years, until after they have graduated from high school. These young people talk with the public about the role of music in the 18th-century military. They teach younger members the music and history lessons needed to continue the tradition of the field musicians. – About the Fives and Drums
If you look closely at this video you will see that the kids do not break formation, even though they are walking over horse droppings. Where are the street sweepers when you need them! (The street sweeper below is lamenting the advent of the machine!)
Note to readers: although the era so dramatically demonstrated at Williamsburg is from the 18th century through 1776, the customs and costumes would have been familiar to Jane Austen’s parents at the time of her birth. One can easily imagine Reverend Austen and his wife Cassandra wearing similar clothes as they raised their growing family in Steventon. Their parsonage had a cow (and a pig and chickens, no doubt), a well and kitchen garden, and the means to make cream and butter, wines and preserves, and other household goods that are so well demonstrated in Williamsburg!
My other Williamsburg posts:
- Three pretty maids and a gent: a closer look at working class fashion
- Sounds of Williamsburg: A horse clopping along a gravel road
Jane Austen's World 
Amazing photos and description. Thank you.
Thanks for the lovely virtual tour. The coffeehouse was under excavation when I was last there. I love Williamsburg and hope to return some day. (It’s a long trip from Seattle!)
I’ve been to Williamsburg twice; last time was about ten years ago. Thanks for the memories!
Williamsburg is such a fascinating place. I encourage your readers who haven’t visited the Historic District to do so. (But not in July or August, unless you like “hot and humid”!)
Did you know that you can stay in reconstructed homes in the Historic District? It’s a great way to enjoy the colonial lifestyle!
Thanks for these charming pictures. Missing, however, is what would strike us most if suddenly transported to that era: the smell of animal and human dung, rotting vegetable matter and unwashed bodies. Unwashed bodies, I think, most of all.
Very few recreations of our past reproduce the smells. One that does is Jorvik, England:
‘ . . Everything here is based on archaeological facts – from the layout of the houses, the working craftsmen, the language of the gossiping neighbours, to the smells of cooking and the cesspit! As you travel through the busy market place, you will experience a blast of smoke from the blacksmith’s furnace, smell the fish on the riverside and visit the hearth scene inside the Viking home.’
http://jorvik-viking-centre.co.uk/about-jorvik/jorvik-now/
One of my favorite places in the world. I once stayed in one of the historic homes in Williamsburg for an Anniversary. Thanks for such a wonderful virtual tour. As a shepherd, I especially enjoyed the sheep.
Good morning, Vic:
I appreciate, so much these posts of yours about Williamsburg.
My daughter went to college there and she and her family are headed there today (driving from New Hampshire for the week of school vacation) to enjoy her first visit back there in twenty years!
I have been able to forward each one of your posts (about your visit to Williamsburg) to her, which will give her much worthwhile information and whet her appetite, too!
Thank you putting together such an interesting account of your visit!
I imagine way back when Williamsburg was a thriving metropolis that the inhabitants spoke English with English accent’s.
I imagine too that the American accent of today developed after the arrival of the masses from Ireland and Italy and all other places in Europe turned it into something of a mixing pot.
So my question is Vic do the people who work and guide in this town speak as they did or is the spell broken once they start speaking with present day Yankee twangs or southern drawls.
A point that’s always fascinated me; I always imagine Geo, Washington John Adams et al to speak as Englishmen. Even Abraham Lincoln I imagine spoke English English.
:)
Hi Brian, you might be interested to know that the American accent on the East Coast evolved from the Shakespearean British accent. Much as the accents in Britain evolved from those times, so did the American accent. In fact, today’s British accent is no more akin to the accents spoken in Britain during the 18th century, than the American accent is akin to British English today. I have only read a few articles on the topic, but our evolving English fascinates me.
Having said that, the people working in Williamsburg speak in present day accents, but they speak formally and correctly, using associations with the past. While this town’s recreation is remarkable, the duplication of past times isn’t perfect. Our present life intrudes (the sound of buses and airplanes, the tourists in modern dress, and people withe modern accents!
Thank you Vic I must admit it is fascinating, and it’s always worried me watching American period pieces with one notable exception; the HBO series on the life of John Adams.
My paternal grandparents were born in London in 1865 and I recall their voices and accents were pretty much the same as what mine was (and sometimes still is); pure Cockney :) so I believe that the Londoners accents probably did not change all that much over the 100 years before they were born.
I think the same applies to most of the odd English accents many of which even I can’t fathom and understand/
I didn’t take into consideration the perfect sense regarding the noises from the present which is stupid of me, But wouldn’t it be nice to ban all vehicles from entering the township and have them park a kilometre or so outside the town perimeter and enter on foot or by horse drawn vehicle?
Think I;m going senile ;)
Actually, the accent spoken in Williamsburg at that time was a Virginia Tidewater accent modified because of the large numbers of peoples coming from all over the world. Look up Williamsburg’s Thomas Jefferson reenactor Bill Barker. http://www.thethomasjefferson.com/about.html
His accent is close to how Jefferson would have spoken. Though not everyone chooses to speak with an authentic accent as you noticed.
For those who are curious, there are some articles on language and accents in the Colonial Williamsburg Journal.
I remember when my father took me to Carter’s Grove as a kid in the 80s. He kinda freaked me out when he told that the plantation was haunted with ghosts…my dad is crazy hahaha! Upon our arrival I saw a beautiful mansion with magnificent architecture and scenery. Each room resembled an artistic masterpiece that was so perfect, it looked unreal! Oh so many memories I had with my dad!