Who is Architect William Buckland?

William Buckland was an British architect that worked primarily in Virginia and Maryland in the colonial era, and is credited with greatly contributing to world renown Virginia historical sites such as Gunston Hall, and Menokin, as well as the Chase-Lloyd House and Hammond-Harwood House in Annapolis, MD.

Buckland trained as a joiner and carpenter before coming to Virginia as the indentured servant of Thomson Mason in 1755. He worked on the interior detailing of Gunston Hall for the next four years. Buckland moved to Richmond County in 1761, where he purchased a farm and established a workshop of builders to continue work on various projects across the region.

Mentions of Buckland in the Carter and Tayloe papers suggest he may have contributed design and construction to Sabine Hall, home of Landon Carter, and Mount Airy, home of John Tayloe II. In 1771, Buckland moved to Annapolis, Maryland, and there designed the Hammond-Harwood House and the courthouse in Caroline County. He died in 1774.

Just as all fine craftsmen leave clues about their involvement with a creation, so the builders of Menokin left theirs. Recently completed research by cultural landscape team partners, Allan Brown and Reed Hilderbrand, has brought us closer to knowing who these people were that built Menokin.

Brown’s research strengthens the case that William Buckland was involved in the design and construction of Menokin. He was joined by two other Williams — William Wright, the chief brick mason, and William Waite, stone mason.