Thomas Jefferson's
Gristmill at Shadwell
Plantation (circa 1807)
Shadwell Plantation was the birthplace of Thomas Jefferson. The gristmill ruin on the Rivanna River is the only remaining visible remnant of the original working mill plantation of the Jefferson family.
We were hired by The Thomas Jefferson Foundation to stabilize the stone ruin so it could possibly be incorporated into part of a trail system that runs along the river. Specifically, our scope of work was to repoint the exterior walls using custom lime mortar that was color matched to the original mortar. We also matched the original strike of the remaining original mortar joints as well. We stabilized the interior walls through the use of low-pressure lime mortar injections to pack the lime mortar deep within the walls. We stabilized areas in and around the firebox as well as the tops of the walls to prepare them to be capped with lead sheeting.
The Gristmill at Shadwell is the third project we have completed for The Thomas Jefferson Foundation.
Original conditions of outside of gristmill ruin prior to masonry restoration.
Repointing and stabilization of exterior of gristmill using custom matched lime mortar.
Interior wall with firebox prior to masonry restoration.
Stabilization, lime mortar injections, and repointing of interior of gristmill ruin.
View of interior of opening prior to masonry restoration
After stabilization with low pressure grout injections and pointing.
Outside corner showing mortar degredation
Close up of unique chisel markings on stone
Repointed stone wall with custom mortar
View of the top of wall after masonry restoration