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Roanoke Island »   Events »   Blog »   Building a Settlement - Wattle and Daub Method

Building a Settlement - Wattle and Daub Method

February 13, 2020
16th century blacksmith's shop exterior in the Settlement Site at Roanoke Island Festival Park

Imagine arriving on the shores of the new world in 1585. Locating food, water and shelter were the top priority items on the settlers to-do lists. With no hardware stores in sight, the settlers relied on the land’s natural resources for building materials. During the 16th century, the most common building technique was the wattle and daub method.

How it Works

Step 1: Assemble the Wattle Structure

Wooden sticks or stakes were woven together in a basket-like pattern between the building’s frame, creating a solid wall for stability and insulation. 

Close up of the wattle and daub method in the blacksmith's shop at Roanoke Island Festival Park

 

Step 2: Cover with Daub

The settlers in the 16th century mixed together clay and sand and applied the compound (daub) on top of the wattle. Straw, hair and grass were common reinforcement materials that were often added into the mixture to help hold it together. The daub was then pressed into the wattle and smoothed out, similar to modern day stucco or concrete. 

Wattle and daub siding on the blacksmith's shop at Roanoke Island Festival Park

Step 3: Apply Plaster

Once the daub hardened, the exterior was covered with a plaster made of lime or sand. On Roanoke Island, lime was most likely harvested from nearby shellfish shells. 

Today's Settlement

Blacksmith's shop exterior in the Settlement Site at Roanoke Island Festival Park

If you’ve visited the park’s Settlement Site, you’ll notice that the walls of the blacksmith’s shop were constructed using the wattle and daub technique. Our staff are currently working on repairing the shop’s exterior, remaining true to this 16th century method. Instead of daub, concrete is used as a sturdier, weatherproofing substitute. 

Seeing this 16th century inspired architecture in-person gives you a new appreciation for the craftsmanship and ingenuity of the early English settlers. Learn more about the lives of the first English settlers in America when the park reopens on March 6, 2020.  

Blog

  • 16th Century Navigation
  • 16th Century Saturday
  • 2019 Quilt Show Recap
  • 2020 Quilt Show Recap
  • 35th Anniversary Exhibit for the Elizabeth II
  • Autism Friendly Park Guide
  • Building a Settlement - Wattle and Daub Method
  • Celebrate Father's Day at Festival Park
  • Celebrating Armistice Day
  • Celebrating Black History on the Outer Banks
  • Celebrating Labor Day - 16th Century Occupations
  • Dare County High School Art Show 2018
  • Fall Harvest History
  • Field Trip Guide for Homeschoolers
  • Holiday Festivities at the Park
  • Independent Watermen Exhibit Coming to Festival Park
  • July 4th Itinerary
  • Just Hanging Around - RIFP Art Collection Video Series
  • March Quilting Madness
  • Mother's Day at the Park
  • Must-Read Books for National Book Lovers Day
  • NC Firsts
  • NCLearn @ Home
  • New Summer Exhibits at the Park
  • Rainy Day Activities at Roanoke Island Festival Park
  • Roanoke Island Festival Park Will Open to the Public June 2
  • Spring Gardening Tips from American Indian Town
  • Take a Child Outside Week
  • The Museum Store Holiday Gift Guide
  • Thriving Off the Land - Algonquin Food
  • Tourism Pledge - Keeping You Safe This Summer
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Roanoke Island Festival Park
1 Festival Park, Manteo, NC 27954
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252-423-5200

Park Hours 
March 15 - December 31 (closed some holidays)
Tuesday - Saturday from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. 

Admissions:
Adult: $11
Youth (3 - 17): $8
Children 2 & Under: Free
Last tickets sold at 4:30 pm 

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