Colonial Williamsburg is massively important in the history of America both architecturally and politically, being the capital of Virginia between 1699 and 1780. This retail scheme is on the last site remaining in the historic centre at Merchants Square close to the Wren building. Each of the four buildings emphasise a different variation of the Williamsburg vernacular. Thus, the South Building is a pure rendering of Palladian proportions in St Bees sandstone. The Middle Building is a modest example of traditional weatherboarding. The North Building is an essay in rubbed and gauged brickwork inspired by 17th century East Anglian provincial buildings which would have been familiar to the early settlers who built Williamsburg.