in a few of the Jamestown houses were handwrought iron casements. Most
of the humbler dwellings had no glass panes in the windows. The window
openings were closed by batten shutters, operated by hinges of wood and
fitted with wooden fastening devices.


WALL AND FIREPLACE TILE

Most of the hand-painted tiles used at Jamestown (for decorating walls
and fireplaces) were imported from Holland. A few were made in England.
Made of a light-buff clay, and known as delftware, the tiles unearthed
are decorated in blue, with a conventionalized design in each corner and
a central picture or motif. Covered with a tin glaze, the majority of
tiles found measure about 5 inches square by 3/8-inch thick. The edges
are beveled, permitting them to be set very close together at the glazed
surface. The attractively decorated tiles added a touch of beauty to a
few Jamestown interiors.


ROOFING MATERIALS

Four kinds of roofing materials have been excavated: Plain, flat,
earthenware tiles; curved earthenware pantiles; slate; and wooden
shingles. The plain tiles were made in Jamestown brick kilns, and it is
possible that some of the S-curved red pantiles were also made locally.
Slate was brought over from England, whereas most of the shingles were
rived from native cedar and oak logs. Other materials used in roofing
included bark, marshgrass and reeds (thatch), and boards. Sod appears to
have been used on some of the very early houses.