Revealing the Williamsburg Bray School, Part 2
Take a look inside the restoration of one of the earliest institutions dedicated to Black education in North America.
Williamsburg Bray School Display (2022) by Brian NewsonThe Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
In 2020, an initial investigation confirmed that a structure on the College of William & Mary's campus was the original 1760s Bray School. To learn about the Bray School's rediscovery, read Revealing the Williamsburg Bray School, Part 1.
Two years later, the preservation team at The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation prepared the building for relocation, marking the beginning of the next phase of its restoration.
Moving the Williamsburg Bray School (2023) by Brendan SostakThe Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
Moving the Bray School
In 2023, the Bray School was relocated to a site in Colonial Williamsburg’s Historic Area on Nassau Street. The building was carefully lifted onto a trailer and slowly transported through town to its new site, where it was set onto new foundations.
Williamsburg Sketchbook (1919) by Donald MacDonald MillerThe Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
Archival discoveries
Once relocated, the preservation team continued their research to guide the restoration. A significant discovery came from an early 20th-century sketchbook by Donald MacDonald Millar, who had sketched several buildings and donated the book to The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation before his death in 1973.
Williamsburg Sketchbook (1919) by Donald MacDonald MillerThe Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
When the sketchbook was rediscovered, it revealed previously unknown sketches of the Bray School within its pages.
These sketches, including a floor plan, elevations, and details such as the stairway and chimney, helped architectural historians gain a better understanding of what the building looked like before its 1924 renovation.
The restoration
With this information, the team carefully began restoring the building. They reconstructed the gable roof, reinforced the original frame, preserved historic material, and addressed countless other architectural details, ensuring the structure would reflect its original character.
Carpenter's Yard (2024) by Brendan SostakThe Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
Throughout this process, the preservation team relied heavily on Colonial Williamsburg’s historic trades. For example, the carpenters crafted and installed the new shingle roof while blacksmiths forged the reconstructed hardware used throughout the house.
Williamsburg Bray School Restoration (2024) by Brendan SostakThe Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
Designing the Bray School
At the start of the project, many elements no longer survived or were too deteriorated to reuse. As a result, the team had to develop new designs for reconstructed components.
To guide this work, the team studied other period examples as reference points. For example, because none of the original Bray School mantels survived, they looked to other 18th-century mantels throughout the town for inspiration.
Williamsburg Bray School Restoration (2024) by Brendan SostakThe Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
Out of sight
Another major, if often overlooked, aspect of the restoration was the installation of modern conveniences. For the building to function as a museum space, HVAC systems were required. To preserve the 18th-century appearance, the team carefully concealed these systems out of sight, including within the chimney stack.
Architectural Preservation Artifact Storage (2026) by Brendan SostakThe Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
Architectural fragments
During the project, all removed architectural fragments were documented, cataloged, and stored for future research.
Williamsburg Bray School During Restoration (2023) by Jennifer WilkoskiThe Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
The lower east room
Scroll to watch the school room transform from its appearance during the restoration to its current fully restored and furnished state.
Bray School Interior (2025) by Brian NewsonThe Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
The grand reveal
The lower east room, shown here, has been re-created as a classroom.
Williamsburg Bray School During Restoration (2023/2023) by Jennifer WilkoskiThe Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
The lower west room
Scroll to see the exposed wall of the parlor room transform into its current appearance.
Bray School Interior (2025) by Brian NewsonThe Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
The grand reveal
The lower west room is re-created as a parlor space for the school teacher Ann Wager, who also lived in the building.
Williamsburg Bray School Second Floor East Room During Restoration (2024/2024) by Tessa HoneycuttThe Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
The upper east room
Moving upstairs, scroll to see the recreation of the upper east room.
Restored Second Floor East Room of the Williamsburg Bray School (2025/2025) by Tessa HoneycuttThe Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
The grand reveal
The upper east room is re-created as Ann Wager's bedroom.
Williamsburg Bray School Stair During Restoration (2024/2024) by Tessa HoneycuttThe Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
The stairs
Finally, scroll to reveal the restored stairway.
Bray School Entrance Hallway (2025) by Brendan SostakThe Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
The grand reveal
Like the rest of the building, the stairs have been returned to their 1760 appearance.
Williamsburg Bray School (2025) by Brian NewsonThe Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
In 2025, the Bray School officially reopened to the public. More than 250 years after it closed, the Bray School now shares the story of the Black children who once studied within its walls. Today, the school is open free to visitors seven days a week.
Explore the Williamsburg Bray School with a virtual tour. Learn more about the Williamsburg Bray School and life in 18th-century Williamsburg at colonialwilliamsburg.org.
Follow the restorations team’s discoveries and work to preserve and interpret this important piece of Williamsburg’s history on social media.
To see the list of students who attended the Bray School, visit William & Mary’s Bray School Lab site.
This story was researched, written, reviewed, and edited by experts at The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.
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