Hayes in Gloucester County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Fairfield Plantation

Ash Pit, Clay Borrow Pit & Fence Line

— Fairfield Plantation —

Photographed by Brandon D Cross

1. Fairfield Plantation Marker

Inscription. A vast amount of information has been found in this area concerning the evolution and layout of Fairfield Plantation. In the summer of 2001, archaeologists discovered an ash pit, clay borrow pit, and a fence line. The late 17th-century ash pit was a shallow hole refilled with wood ash and early artifacts including a wrought iron butterfly hinge, a 1580/1581 English silver six pence, and locally made tobacco pipe fragments. This feature is likely related to an earlier house of Lewis Burwell II. The clay borrow pit was dug to obtain clay for making bricks around 1720, perhaps for the addition to the manor house, or other outbuilding. Shortly after the removal of clay, the pit was refilled with bricks discarded from the kiln, an abundance of broken wine bottles, and other items common on early 18th-century plantations. Marked by the line of posts in front of you is a small portion of historic fenceline. The fence was built with six inch square wooden posts set in holes approximately two feet square and spaced eight feet apart. This fence line corresponds with a road drawn on a 1781 French reconnaissance leading from Burwell's

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Mill, across the field from your left, and continuing southwest towards Carter Creek.
(caption)
Left Top: 17th-century ash pit.
Left Center: Clay borrow pit excavation.
Left Bottom: Typical post hole and mold from the fence line
Center: Overview of excavation area; fence line (left center to top right), clay borrow pit (bottom center), 17th-century ash pit (top center)
Right: Excavation units uncovering the path of the fenceline.

Erected by Fairfield Foundation. (Marker Number #3.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Anthropology & Archaeology • Colonial Era. A significant historical year for this entry is 1780.

Location. 37° 20.467′ N, 76° 33.223′ W. Marker is in Hayes, Virginia, in Gloucester County. It is on Fairfield Lane 0.4 miles west of Cedar Bush Road, on the right when traveling north. The marker is located within Fairfield Archaeology Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 5777 Fairfield Lane, Hayes VA 23072, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on the Middle Peninsula

and in the Hampton Roads Metropolitan Area.

Photographed by Brandon D Cross

2. Fairfield Plantation Marker

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in the Tidewater,

in the Chesapeake Bay Region,

and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: The Fairfield Manor House (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named The Fairfield Manor House (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named The Fairfield Manor House (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named The Fairfield Manor House (within shouting distance of this marker); Outside the Manor (within shouting distance of this marker); East Pavilion Wall (approx. 1½ miles away); North Façade (approx. 1½ miles away); South Façade (approx. 1½ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in

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Hayes.

Also see . . .
1. Fairfield Plantation. (Submitted on April 18, 2025, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)
2. Fairfield Plantation (Gloucester Co.). (Submitted on April 18, 2025, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)
3. Digs & Discoveries - Fairfield’s Rebirth in 3-D …. (Submitted on April 18, 2025, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)

Credits. This page was last revised on April 20, 2025. It was originally submitted on April 18, 2025, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 198 times since then and 49 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 18, 2025, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.