Historic Williamsburg

4. James Geddy House

Williamsburg, VA

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The James Geddy House, a two-story, L-shaped house, is one of the few buildings in historic Williamsburg that has retained most of its original structure. The house was built in 1762 by James Geddy Jr., who owned a silversmith and jewelry business. Unlike many of the other estate owners in the area, Geddy was not a member of the landed gentry, but came into wealth and land ownership through his business success. His craftsmanship was patronized by many notable people, and he thus gained some political and social influence. Geddy was a member of the local governing body called the Common Council. The architecture of the James Geddy House is unusual for the generally colonial styled architecture in the area; it is a mixture of English and Italian interpretations of Greek and Roman styles. The reason for the house's L-shape is not known for certain, but many believe it may have simply been the best way to fit the corner plot of land.