Monday, April 11, 2016

Medway Plantation

Location: Mount Holly, South Carolina off U.S. Route 52

Medway Plantation is located in the Mount Holly community which is between Goose Creek and Charleston South Carolina.  The plantation was added to the National Register of Historic places back in 1970.  The plantation house was built back in the later 1600's by a small group of settlers from Holland.  Medway was a active plantation during the winter and summer months.  Rice was the main focus during the summer months and brick making following during the winter months.  Medway today has been set up in a Environmental Trust by Gertrude Sanford Legendre which ensures the preservation of the plantation.   

Medway Plantation, U.S. Route 52, Pine Grove vicinity (Berkeley County, South Carolina).jpg

Sunday, April 10, 2016

Quinby Plantation

Location: Huger, South Carolina

Architectural Style: Federal

 Quinby plantation was added to the National Register of Historic places in 1985.  The plantation house was built in 1800 and follows the federal style house.  Halidon Hill Plantation serves as the home of the house when it was moved there in 1954 in order to preserve the plantation house.  The original foundation is the only part of the house that is still on the grounds of Quinby Plantation. The property mainly rice fields was apivotal aspect of the low-county rice culture.

 Quinby Plantation, Circa 1921 - Berkeley County, South Carolina

Sunday, April 3, 2016

Middleburg Plantation

Location: Huger, SC/ East Branch of the Cooper River

Architectural Style: Colonial

Middleburg Plantation house was first constructed in 1699 by Benjamin Simons, a French Huguenot.  The original wood-frame building is still standing to this day, which makes it the oldest wood-frame building in South Carolina. 

The plan of the house became what is known as a precusor for the typical Charleston single house, where each floor has three rooms.  The plantation home was register as a historical landmark back in 1970.  The property has been passed down for centuries and still remains in the hands of Simon's descendants. 

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f0/Middleburg_Plantation.jpg

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

Lewisfield Plantation

Location: Western branch of the Cooper River
Berkeley County Moncks Corner, SC

Today Lewisfield Plantation is privately owned by the Dennis family.  The plantation was built around 1744.  Throughout the property the cash crop of rice was planted in the flooded fields, which was harvested as a source of revenue for the owners. 

Today the rice fields are still there but no longer serve the purpose for growing rice.  The fields today are planted with corn and flooded and serve as duck impoundments.  This historic site today is somewhat difficult to personally visit since the property is privately owned.

Strawberry Chapel


Location: Berkeley County

Childsbury was one of the first settlement towns established in the Carolina colony.  Strawberry Chapel was one of the buildings created during this time and to this day is the only remaining structure.  The church was built in 1725.

During this time there where many other plantations being built and the the Childsbury settlement could not compete, which caused the town to diminish.  The chapel was used for many years during this time because the nearest church was Biggin church roughly 10 miles away.  The chapel today is thought to be haunted, so if your in the area Strawberry Chapel is a must see especially at night.

Strawberry Chapel, Cooper River, West Branch, Cordesville vicinity (Berkeley County, South Carolina).jpg



Thursday, March 10, 2016

Biggins Church Ruins

Location: Moncks Corner, SC

Biggins church was built in 1711 and served as a place of worship for many years.  The original structure was the church of the parish of St. John's Berkeley.  There has been many reconstructions on the church due to it being burned and damaged in three fires. 

The church was used up until the civil war, but was damage during the war.  After the burning of the church in the 1890's there has been no attempt to rebuild the church.  The ruins of the church are surrounded by many burial sites and the number of tombstones continues to grow til this day.

Friday, March 4, 2016

Mulberry Plantation

Location: Moncks Corner, SC
Western Branch of the Cooper River

Est. Late 1600's

Architectural Style: Colonial Georgian 

Another unique place to add to the visit list is Mulberry Plantation.  Located between Moncks Corner and Charleston, this property was developed in 1714 by Thomas Broughton, who became the Royal governor of South Carolina, and is one of the oldest plantation homes in the United States.  Its rice fields, dikes and canals were well preserved into the 20th century.  The plantation is privately owned to this date.