Seventeenth-century Virginia architecture is a difficult subject to study. Only a handful of examples remain standing and those that do survive have been heavily modified during their three hundred years of existence. The restriction to brick architecture limits research even further. While it is true that the only standing structures built during the seventeenth century in Virginia are brick in nature, the extant information dealing with many of these buildings, including historical documentation and archaeological data, is rare and difficult to obtain. This study's focus is to review the relationship of brick architecture to the people who used it and their reasons for employing it [in] the construction of their homes. By concentrating on seven of these brick structures, ranging in construction date from the 1640s to the 1690s, a brief evaluation of this 'permanent' construction technique within Virginia will be undertaken. This study's goal is also to use historical, archaeological, and architectural data to identify trends or consistencies from the structural record.