First Period architecture

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First Period architecture (1626–1725) is the early American colonial style built by British settlers, mainly in Massachusetts and Virginia. Essex County, Massachusetts has the most preserved examples. Notable early houses include the Williams–Barker House (c. 1634) in Scituate and the Ross Tavern (c. 1680) in Ipswich.

Typical exterior features
- South-facing design to catch sunlight and heat
- Central chimney to heat several rooms
- Gabled, often asymmetrical roof to shed snow
- Small diamond-shaped casement windows

Interior features
- Heavy oak timber frame with exposed beams
- Thick walls with simple insulation (clay and twig)
- L-shaped or U-shaped staircases around the central chimney

Floor plans
- The common two-room central-chimney plan (especially in Massachusetts Bay)
- Some houses were one-room-deep with a hall near the entrance and large rooms on either side
- Upstairs often mirrored the downstairs with sleeping quarters

How the style changed
- Before around 1660: houses built by settlers with basic carpentry, frames often exposed
- 1660–1700: skilled carpenters used heavy timber frames, more complex designs, decorative chamfers called “stops”
- 1700–1725: simpler, less decorative, with wider bevels; Georgian influences began to appear and timber frames were sometimes hidden

Roofing and construction
- English roof ideas influenced New England builders
- Main roof systems used rafters and purlins; wooden shingles replaced thatch over time, reducing the need for heavy collar beams

Building types
- Homes: sturdy wooden cottages with thick clapboards suitable for cold winters
- Churches: Puritan churches followed early medieval English styles; Old Ship Church in Hingham, MA is a well-preserved example

Overall, First Period buildings show a transition from simple, exposed timber frames to more refined, later styles, while keeping practical, heat-conscious design features that fit the cold New England climate.