Fence pale

Date18th century

OriginAmerica, Virginia, Williamsburg, Benjamin Waller House

MediumTulip poplar; whitewash

Dimensions5' 8½" (H) x 4½" (W) x ½" (T)

Object numberAF-1.16.9

DescriptionThis pit-sawn, hand-planed fence pale has a simple triangular point design which was most common in the southern colonies. Fences of this design likely surrounded work areas or less visible sections of a property.
Label TextThese 18th-century fence pales were found repurposed as lath nailers in the attic of the Benjamin Waller house in 1951. The decorative spade-topped pale (on the right) and the pointed utilitarian pale (on the left) were removed and used as templates for several Historic Area fences, including some of the fences on the Benjamin Waller property at the east end of Francis Street. Fence pales were the favored fence type for the enclosure of Williamsburg lots during the 18th century. Virginia gentry nearly always selected pales for their gardens and domestic yards. The tops of the pales might be pointed or otherwise decoratively shaped, depending on the use of the area they enclosed.
InscribedPainted on planed side near butt end: faint outline of "WALLER H"
ProvenanceBenjamin Waller House