Drayton Hall, Charleston, SC 9-23

Today we decided to see Drayton Hall. It was built between 1738 and 1742 and is the only plantation mansion along the Ashley River to have survived the Civil War intact. Two interior doors and a fireplace mantel are the only things missing from the structure of the mansion. It was family owned until it was purchased by the National Trust from the last surviving owner. This was written in the brochure: after seven generations, two great wars, and numerous hurricanes, and earthquakes, the main house remains in nearly original condition. It has never been modernized, no running water, electricity or central heating. Candles were the only source of light for all those generations! After the Civil War it wasn’t lived in permanently ever again. The family just used it occasionally.

The guided tour was wonderful and brought the house alive. The only other building remaining is the outhouse which is the small brick building in one of these photos. It reportedly had seven holes. Quite posh! You had free rein of the grounds to explore as you desired. The grounds were pretty devastated after Hugo seventeen years ago, but today you would never know it had ever happened.

The big oak that I’ve included here is over 300 years old. Larry looks miniature under it! It was old when the house was new!

The Ashley River was the main access to the house back in its hey-day. The roads were hellish. The view across the river almost changed in recent history when a developer planned on buying the land and building high rise buildings. The National Trust raised the money to buy the land so it will be preserved for future generations. It would have spoiled the historical feel so much!

We were standing on the upper level of the portico when this little green guy ran up above the doors. He looks like he was keeping his good eye on us all!

I forgot to mention the mansion’s architecture is Georgian Palladian and it is the oldest preserved plantation house open to the public in America. It was empty too, no furnishings or decorations. All the bricks were hand made; thousands! All the interior walls are brick too.

The oak in this picture was planted after Hurricane Hugo.


This picture below is the view of the house coming up from the river and was considered the front of the house.