Alexander Knight House, 1657

A re-creation of an early, English-style timber frame house from 1657 as described in Ipswich town records. An on-going, live exhibit; building with traditional tools, materials and construction methods of the First Period (1625–1725).

New! We have just added 11 Process pages to the website with lots of photos!(17 July 2011)

Team at work

"The Knight house is a modest dwelling typical of the Bay Colony's first quarter-century of settlement. The houses of the First Period (1625-1725) that survive today are in some sense extraordinary, through the sheer fact of their survival and especially in their size and decoration. Their superiority of construction and condition may be, in fact, why they survived at all.  The Knight house gives us a unique glimpse into the kinds of buildings that ordinary people built for themselves."

From the 1657 Town Meeting: 

"secure a house to be built for Alexander Knight of 16 foote long & twelve foote wyde & 7 or 8 foote stud upon his ground & to pryd thatching & other things nesasary for it."

Timeline of Alexander Knight of England and Ipswich Prepared by
Susan S. Nelson April, 2009

 


This exciting project includes many processes and will be a
living exhibit; an example of what the early settlers were able
to accomplish.

Please visit us here to see progress on the project or witness the real thing at 54 South Main Street, Ipswich, MA

 

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Updated 15 July 2011