![]() In 1699, the capital of Virginia was moved from Jamestown to Williamsburg, and the Wren Building became the temporal headquarters of the government in the area from 1700 until 1704 when the state Capitol was completed. Known simply as ‘The College,’ the main building was renamed in 1931 for the famous architect Sir Christopher Wren, who was attributed to the design. The first college building housed students and contained a library, classrooms, dining room, as well as living quarters for the president and professors. By 1700, the east and north wings of the structure had been completed. He succeeded, and on February 8th of 1693, King William III and Queen Mary II granted the charter that established a ‘place of universal study, a perpetual college of divinity, philosophy, languages, and other good arts and sciences, consisting of one president, six masters and professors, and a hundred scholars more or less.’ This new college bore the King & Queen’s names, and the college was to consist of three schools.Ībout 330 acres of land were purchased in December of 1693, and the very first bricks for the main building were laid in 1695. In 1691, however, Reverend James Blair of the Church of England in Virginia was sent to London by the General Assembly to secure a charter for a college. The Native American uprising of 1622 and the revocation of the Virginia Company charter in 1624 caused this attempt to be abandoned. The Virginia Company of London undertook establishing a university at Henrico on the James River about 12 miles below the present city of Richmond. Looking to visit Williamsburg and learn about its haunted history? Join us for a Williamsburg ghost tour! History of the Wren BuildingĪs early as 1619 there was interest fluttering about in the streets of Virginia about constructing a college. So, come with us as we explore the halls of the Wren Building as discover why it’s one of the campus’ most haunted! The Wren Building has seen a few ups and downs throughout its history, some of which have resulted in the hauntings that are experienced at the building to this day. The Sir Christopher Wren Building at the William & Mary is the oldest college building still standing in the United States and the oldest of the restored public buildings in all of Williamsburg! The Wren Building was erected between 16, before Williamsburg was even founded, when the capital of the colony of Virginia was still Jamestown.
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