Architecture of Beaufort

· Beaufort architecture was mainly influenced by that of the Bahamas.

· Beaufort seems to be the line at which architectural influence from the North and South meet. In Northern NC and Va, architectural influence came from the northern, British influenced colonies. In Beaufort, Wilmington and SC, GA, etc…, the architecture seems to follow much more Caribbean lines.

· Two storied houses often used “ventilation systems” that funneled wind through vent doors at the attic level above the upper porch and to the rest of the house. This concept was also brought from Bahamian architecture.

· The Beaufort gable “hip” roof is the architecture’s distinguishing characteristic. This style of roof seems to have arrived only with the Greek Revival Period. The roof maintains a steep pitch at the ridge but then breaks to cover porches in front and bays in the rear at lesser pitches. Typical roofs of this style have at least three planes, but many houses have four, while the Easton House (219 Front) has five.

· Beaufort picket fence – an early Beaufort ordinance required that the fences be “paled in”. This accounts for the quirky “up and down” picket fences often seen along Front St. and Anne St.

· Houses were often built by shipwrights, who were skilled carpenters and joiners. The result was extremely high craftsmanship and carpentry and a house that would stand up to time and weather with solid resistance.

· Foundations of early houses were often made with ballast stones from the holds of ships.