Sometime around 1690, a merchant named David Macklefish arrived in newly established London Town. Macklefish, a Scotsman, was clearly a prominent individual in the early history of the town, owning more lots than any other resident during this period, and lending his name to the principal east-west street along the peninsula. In a 1709 commercial transaction, David Macklefish referred to himself as the "Lord Mayor of London."  While living in London Town, Macklefish was the public ferry master for the South River Ferry, operated an ordinary (commonly understood today as a tavern) out of his dwelling place, and acquired many more acres of land throughout Maryland.

London Town Lot 74, which was bounded by Fish and Macklefish streets, appears to have been owned by David Macklefish, who lived on nearby Lot 49 until his death in 1711.  Subsequently, his daughter Jane (Macklefish) Burgess and her husband John Burgess sold the property to Stephen West, Sr. in 1723 after West had already been occupying the property for some indeterminate amount of time.

The 20 by 20-foot "earthfast" or post-in-ground tenement structure discovered on Lot 74 was apparently built to satisfy the conditions of taking up lots in London, which specified a 20-foot square building be erected in order to maintain ownership of the lot.  The lack of finer pieces of material culture, coupled with the building's size, indicate that it was probably either rented (most likely by a tradesman or laborer) or occupied by servants and/or enslaved Africans.

Excavations on Lot 74

In June of 1996, the Anne Arundel County Lost Towns Project began excavations on Lot 74 in search of possible buildings. The crew exposed "features" or stains in the soil for 26 postholes, a long shallow ditch, a clay borrow pit, and a cellar hole. The building "footprint" or pattern of postholes that emerged provided evidence for a 20 by 20-foot earthfast structure and two fencelines that once stood on the site.

Hundreds of glass and ceramic shards, bone fragments, and architectural debris such as nails and bricks were recovered. Early ceramics, including white salt-glazed stoneware, creamware, and pearlware indicate that this site was occupied during the height of the town's existence.

An interesting artifact recovered from the site is a patriotic cuff link produced during the French and Indian War (1755 to 1762). The motto on the link "Success to the British Fleet," also appears on delftware punch bowls of the period.  We know that British troops were quartered in London Town during the French and Indian War.  Could this cuff link belonged to one of them?

Reconstructing the "Lord Mayor's Tenement"

Willie Graham, an accomplished and respected architectural historian with the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, drafted detailed plans for Lord Mayor's Tenement. Graham designed the two-story, two-room earthfast structure using the project's archaeological grid map and supporting field research.

Russ Steele (seen here on the left), a North Carolina preservation carpenter, directed the reconstruction effort, enlisting the support of the Annapolis Woodworkers Guild and community volunteers. The opportunity to observe skilled craftsmen work with early tools and natural materials has provided fascinating insights into colonial architecture and life in the early Chesapeake.

Use this link to view a time-lapse video of the building’s construction.

Interpreting the “Lord Mayor’s Tenement”

The Lord Mayor’s Tenement offers a unique opportunity to explore everyday life in a colonial port town during the first quarter of the 1700s. The building has been furnished with reproductions to show how a working family living in London Town might have lived. From time to time visitors may encounter, and be asked to help, a costumed interpreter hearth cook, sew, chop firewood, or work in the kitchen garden.

The Lord Mayor’s Tenement Interpretive Plan will be available online soon.
The Lord Mayor’s Furnishing Plan will be available online soon.
Information on the colonial kitchen garden is found on the Historical Gardens page.