A famous old look on Charleston roof tops comes from the numerous chimneys “capped” with brick arches open on the sides. The look is distinctive, but the idea is very functional, keeping smoke from backdrafting down the chimneys in the pre-electricity days when ciy houses were heated by coal and wood-burn ing fireplaces.
The brick chimney cap was also sensible preventative against flaming embers that could easily ignite the layers of coal tar or creosote that would build up on the inner walls of the structure from hearths below.
Concern over the combustible capability of chimneys was considerable, and city ordinances in the 18th century created “chimney inspectors”,who had the power to enter private property for the purpose of determining whether chimneys were safe. These inspectors could compel property owners to have their chimneys swept, which was done until well into the 20th century by small boys known as “sweep boys”.
Sweep boys would crawl into fireplaces and squeeze their way up through the narrow chimney passages, scouring with bristled brushes to the roof. An ordinance in 1842 set maximum sweep rates at 6 3/4 cents per floor after a threatened strike by chimney sweeps actually prevailed over Charleston.
Architectural Illusions - Entasis (common in Charleston high columns)
Charleston
Charleston, The Place & The People (1670-1781)***
Reminisces of Charleston (1825?)
Historic Charleston (pictures 1904)
Rsch Doc – Colonial Charleston Descriptions
Rsch Doc – Furniture Colonial Era
Hidden History of Charleston (Kindle Loc 316) – Sons of Liberty
Hidden History of Charleston (Kindle Loc 420) – Dueling
Wicked Charleston (Kindle)
Charleston Walking Tour (Kindle)
- Old Powder Magazine 1713
- St. Phillips Church 1680
- French Huguenot Church 1687
- Dock St. Theater 1736
- McCrady's Tavern 1767
- Pink House, 1712 (center of Mulatto Alley, 18th century red light district)
- Mid-Atlantic Wharf & Open-air Slave Market
- Exchange Bldg 1771
- Rainbow Row (not painted rainbow until 20th century)
- 4 Elliot St: home and cooper workshop 1779
- 87 Church: Heyward-Wash. House 1772
- 38 Tradd 1718
- 78 Church 1785 One of the few houses on terrain high enough to allow a cellar
- 69 Church 1750 Rebecca Brewton Motte
- First Baptist Church 1699 (Note Charleston Baptists were driven out of Maine by the Puritans)
- 59 Church 1733 Home with elaborate garden typical for Charleston colonial era.
- 39 Church 1743 - Georgian house once overlooked a tidal creek where Water Street is now. Like many houses of the period, it had a secret staircase.
- 37 Church 1743 - Thomas Hall Jervey lived here during his tenure as customs surveyor of the port.
- 8 South Battery 1768 Home of Col. William Washington, George Washington’s second cousin and Tarleton's nemesis.
- 15 Meeting 1770 - This house was built by patriot John Edwards but occupied by the British Admiral Arbuthnot when Charleston fell in 1780 and Edwards was imprisoned. Twelve years in construction, it is wood on a brick foundation with the cypress paneling scored to resemble stone.
- 19 King (c. 1739) - The Lamboll family built this house to replace an earlier residence. Their property to the south, on what then was the bank of the Ashley River, included a wharf and extensive garden, maintained by Mrs. Lamboll. A 1730s account describes a “handsome flower and kitchen garden upon the English plan” where pomegranates, Seville oranges and other exotic plants were grown.
- 27 King 1769 - slave trader Miles Brewton house built at a cost of 8,000 pounds. The ornate designs in the cornice and door surround are the work of English woodcarvers; the two-story portico and the elliptical fanlight over the door are among the earliest in the country. The iron spikes on the fence were intended to help defend the house in the event of a slave revolt. When British forces occupied Charleston, Generals Clinton and Rawdon took up residence here, during which time an anonymous staff officer etched a profile of Clinton in the marble mantle. The house remains in the family, and its history is given in detail in Richard Cote’s excellent book, Mary’s World.
- 35 Meeting 1720 – Home of Lt. Gov. William Bull
- 34 Meeting (c. 1760) – Living quarters of the royal governors.
- St. Michael's Episcopal Church 1761 Most of the interior features of this, the city’s oldest church building, are original, including box pews that were rented by family. The ring of eight brass bells was cast in London and arrived here in 1764. The clock in the tower is also original. Two signers of the Constitution, John Rutledge and Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, are buried in the churchyard, which dates to c. 1682.
- 19 Archdale 1773 - Philip Porcher had slaves from his Santee River plantation build this house of hand-hewn black cypress timbers. A loyalist during the Revolution, Porcher was allowed to stay in the country and keep his property, unlike many Tories. His name is scratched in one of the back window panes.
- Kahol Kadosh Beth Elohim 1839 - This congregation was founded by Sephardic Jews in 1749. The original building burned in the fire of 1838 (although the wrought iron fence remains) and this Greek Revival structure was completed soon after.
- 54 Hasell 1712 - This was once the main house of Rhettsbury Plantation, a tract just north of the walled city owned by Col. William Rhett.
Architecture
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