William & Mary, the second-oldest university in the United States, has unearthed a 17th-century brick kiln on its campus, offering a glimpse into its early construction history. Located in Williamsburg, Virginia, the university was chartered in 1693 and is home to the Wren Building, the oldest university building in the nation. The recent discovery of a brick kiln—first identified in the 1930s but long buried—has brought new attention to the site’s historical significance.
The kiln, which was uncovered during restorative efforts for the Wren Building, dates back to the late 1600s and was used to produce the clay bricks that would later form the structure of the Wren Building and other edifices on campus. According to historical records, the kiln was left in place after construction and then re-covered with earth, a common practice at the time. Elizabeth Monroe, director of the William & Mary Center for Archaeological Research, explained that the rediscovery has provided valuable insights into the construction methods and materials used in colonial-era architecture.
Monroe noted that the discovery is not unique to this site; she emphasized that archaeological findings are a regular occurrence at William & Mary due to the site’s long history of construction and change. ‘Since 1693, buildings have come and gone,’ she said. ‘There have been tennis courts, students, gardens, and outbuildings—just a wide variety of things changing over the years.’ She described the brick kiln as ‘probably the oldest building that was on this site,’ underscoring its significance in the university’s historical narrative.
Charles Fulcher, director of Wren operations and events, highlighted the importance of the Wren Building to the university’s identity. ‘It has been doing largely the same thing for about 325 years,’ he said. ‘Students still have classes in this building every single day, just as Thomas Jefferson did in the early 1760s.’ The Wren Building’s three-foot-thick foundation has played a crucial role in its survival over time, and the discovery of the kiln has provided additional context about the materials and methods used during its construction.
The archaeologists and historians involved in the project have emphasized that the kiln’s rediscovery is part of a broader trend of uncovering historical artifacts and structures within the university’s grounds. The Wren Building itself has been the subject of ongoing archaeological work, with the basement of the Great Hall revealing centuries-old kitchen refuse and other remnants of daily life from the 18th and 19th centuries.
Despite the historical significance of the discovery, archaeologists have plans to cover the kiln again as they continue their work on the Wren Building’s restoration. Monroe explained that the goal is to document and protect such sensitive archaeological features for future generations. ‘At some point in the future, we’ll be reopening [the ground] around the foundation to actually do the waterproofing that’s necessary and replace some drainage pipes,’ she said. ‘But the goal is to identify where these kinds of sensitive archaeological features are and record that so that future generations can benefit as additional improvements need to be made.’