Click the picture to watch timelapse footage of the construction of The Lord Mayor's Tenement



The Lord Mayor's Tenement

Sometime around 1690, a merchant named David Macklefish arrived in newly established London Town. Macklefish, a Scotsman, was clearly a prominent individual in the early history of the town, owning more lots than any other resident during this period, and lending his name to the principal east-west street along the peninsula.

In a commercial transaction, dated 1709, David Macklefish referred to himself as the "Lord Mayor of London." Although some historians have maintained that the title was unofficial, simply recognizing Macklefish's leadership in the community, the existence of Mayor's Court at London Town suggests instead that the position was real.

London Town Lot 74, which bounded on Fish and Macklefish streets, appears to have been owned by David Macklefish, who lived on nearby Lot 49 until his death in 1711. Subsequently, his daughter Jane Macklefish Burgess and her husband John Burgess sold the property to Stephen West in 1723.

The 20 by 20-foot "earthfast" or post-in-ground tenement structure discovered on Lot 74 was apparently built to satisfy the conditions of taking up lots in London, which specified a 20-foot building be erected in order to maintain ownership. Presumably it was either rented, or was occupied by indentured servants or slaves.

Excavations on Lot 74

In June of 1996, the Lost Towns Project began excavations on Lot 74 in search of possible buildings. The crew exposed "features" or stains in the soil for 26 postholes, a long shallow ditch, a clay borrow pit, and a cellar hole. The building "footprint" or pattern of postholes that emerged provided evidence for a 20 by 20-foot earthfast structure and two fencelines that once stood on the site.

Hundreds of glass and ceramic shards, bone fragments, and architectural debris such as nails and bricks were recovered. Early ceramics, including white salt-glazed stoneware, creamware, and pearlware indicate that this site was occupied during the height of the town's existence.

One unique artifact recovered from the site is a patriotic cuff link produced during the French and Indian War (1755 to 1762). The motto on the link "Success to the British Fleet," also appears on delftware punch bowls of the period.

Reconstructing "Lord Mayor's Tenement"

Willie Graham, an accomplished and respected architectural historian with the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, drafted detailed plans for Lord Mayor's Tenement, the first building in the London Town historic village calendar cover. Graham designed the two-story, two-room earthfast structure using the project's archaeological grid map and supporting field research.

Russ Steele, a North Carolina master housewright, directed the reconstruction effort, enlisting the support of the Annapolis Woodworkers Guild and community volunteers. The opportunity to observe skilled craftsmen work with early tools and natural materials has has provided fascinating insights into colonial architecture and life in the early Chesapeake.

The Lord Mayor's Tenement is an important educational tool at Historic London Town and Gardens. A working kitchen and hearth are used for colonial cooking demonstrations, which include vegetables and fruit grown in the nearby gardens. Russ and his volunteers are now preparing to reconstruct another town dwelling, the William Brown Carpenter Shop.

Learn more about
The lost town of London
Rumney's Tavern

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