Building in Princeton in the 1700s

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Building in Princeton in the 1700s
GEORGIAN ARCHITECUTRE

Theresa Cross, Media Specialist Littlebrook
School, Princeton, NJ
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GEORGIAN ARCHITECTURE

• Style of building in the colonies in the 1700s.
• Named after King George of England
• Has distinct characteristics that were practical
  as well as a means to show off wealth.

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CHARACTERISTICS OF GEORGIAN ARCHITECTURE
WINDOWS DOORS EXTERIOR CHIMNEY WATER
TABLE ACCESSORIES SYMMETRY
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WINDOWS
Keystone
Shutters

• Five windows on the top and four on the bottom.
• Small panes that were hand-blown
• Shutters louver on the top and raised panel on
  the bottom
• Keystones and other decorative moulding was a
  sign of stature or wealth.

5 on top with louvers
4 on bottom with raised panel
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DOORS

• Dutch doors welcomed sunlight and air, while
  keeping out animals.
• Most doors had raised panels, and a knocker.
• Fancy moulding, pillars, etc. were used to show
  wealth.

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EXTERIOR
Clapboard - common and inexpensive
Brick - expensive
Stone - Durable and not expensive
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CHIMNEY
All colonial houses had a chimney that led to a
fireplace on a side wall. More than one
fireplace was another sign of wealth, or a
necessity for cooking and heat.
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WATER TABLE
A water table was built into some buildings to
divert rainwater from the dwelling. These are
sometimes referred to as colonial gutters.
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ACCESSORIES
A variety of accessories were used on homes to
decorate and show wealth, or to make life more
comfortable. The most common were
Covered porch
Dental moulding
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SYMMETRY
Houses built in the Georgian Architecture manner
were symmetrical and often had gardens and
landscaping that was symmetrical as well.
trees
landscaping
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Green Ovals
In 1976, the Princeton Historical Society put
copper ovals on all buildings in Princeton
Township that were standing in 1776. When
traveling through Princeton, look for these ovals
(now tarnished green) near the front door of
dwellings.
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Can you name any of the buildings pictured in
this presentation?
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Answers
The Barracks (Edgehill Rd.)
Bainbridge House
Maclean House
Morven
Thomas Clarke House