Brick House Ruins
Encyclopedia
The Paul Hamilton House, commonly referred to as the Brick House Ruins, is the ruin
of a 1725 plantation house on Edisto Island
, South Carolina
, that burned in 1929.
, one of the Sea Islands
in what was then the Province of South Carolina
.
house was constructed with exterior walls of brick
imported from Boston
, such brick being harder and denser than the local kind. The interior of the home was primarily constructed of locally-produced lumber
which had been aged seven years. Construction also utilized local gravel
and sand
brought to the site from the Pon Pon.
, France
, evidence of the French influence in its architecture is seen through many stucco enrichments to the exterior and its high-pitched roof.
In 1929 the house caught fire, with its wooden portion being largely reduced to ashes and only its brick walls with stucco
ed quoin
s and trim
remaining. Until that time, it had not been significantly altered.
The ruin
was recorded photographically as part of the Historic American Buildings Survey
of the National Park Service
cataloged at the Library of Congress
in both 1936 and 1939.
It was declared a National Historic Landmark
and added to the National Register of Historic Places
on 15 April 1970.
The South Carolina Department of Archives and History published a summary of the site as a part of South Carolina history
. They describe it as an artifact
of important early French influence in the Carolinas, considered a "stately and picturesque ruin in its own right." They cite the architecture of the outer walls as being "unique in this country."
considers it to be in an "Emergency" condition due to major cracks and deformation of the south wall, with collapse likely if no remedial action is taken.
Ruins
Ruins are the remains of human-made architecture: structures that were once complete, as time went by, have fallen into a state of partial or complete disrepair, due to lack of maintenance or deliberate acts of destruction...
of a 1725 plantation house on Edisto Island
Edisto, South Carolina
Edisto Island is one of South Carolina's Sea Islands, the larger part of which lies in Charleston County, with its southern tip in Colleton County. The Charleston County part is a census-designated place. The population was 2,301 at the 2000 census...
, South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
, that burned in 1929.
Construction
The house was constructed about 1725 for Paul Hamilton, a wealthy South Carolina planter, on Edisto IslandEdisto, South Carolina
Edisto Island is one of South Carolina's Sea Islands, the larger part of which lies in Charleston County, with its southern tip in Colleton County. The Charleston County part is a census-designated place. The population was 2,301 at the 2000 census...
, one of the Sea Islands
Sea Islands
The Sea Islands are a chain of tidal and barrier islands on the Atlantic Ocean coast of the United States. They number over 100, and are located between the mouths of the Santee and St. Johns Rivers along the coast of the U.S...
in what was then the Province of South Carolina
Province of South Carolina
The South Carolina Colony, or Province of South Carolina, was originally part of the Province of Carolina, which was chartered in 1663. The colony later became the U.S. state of South Carolina....
.
Materials
The two-storyStorey
A storey or story is any level part of a building that could be used by people...
house was constructed with exterior walls of brick
Brick
A brick is a block of ceramic material used in masonry construction, usually laid using various kinds of mortar. It has been regarded as one of the longest lasting and strongest building materials used throughout history.-History:...
imported from Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, such brick being harder and denser than the local kind. The interior of the home was primarily constructed of locally-produced lumber
Lumber
Lumber or timber is wood in any of its stages from felling through readiness for use as structural material for construction, or wood pulp for paper production....
which had been aged seven years. Construction also utilized local gravel
Gravel
Gravel is composed of unconsolidated rock fragments that have a general particle size range and include size classes from granule- to boulder-sized fragments. Gravel can be sub-categorized into granule and cobble...
and sand
Sand
Sand is a naturally occurring granular material composed of finely divided rock and mineral particles.The composition of sand is highly variable, depending on the local rock sources and conditions, but the most common constituent of sand in inland continental settings and non-tropical coastal...
brought to the site from the Pon Pon.
Architecture
Its architectural design is in keeping with American colonial architecture but exhibits French Huguenot influence. Possibly a simplified copy of the circa 1675 Chateau de la Haye d'Esquermes near Loos les LilleLoos, Nord
-References:* -External links:*...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, evidence of the French influence in its architecture is seen through many stucco enrichments to the exterior and its high-pitched roof.
History
It served as the plantation house for a 300 acre plantation. The estate was acquired in 1798 by the Jenkins family which maintains ownership to this day.In 1929 the house caught fire, with its wooden portion being largely reduced to ashes and only its brick walls with stucco
Stucco
Stucco or render is a material made of an aggregate, a binder, and water. Stucco is applied wet and hardens to a very dense solid. It is used as decorative coating for walls and ceilings and as a sculptural and artistic material in architecture...
ed quoin
Quoin (architecture)
Quoins are the cornerstones of brick or stone walls. Quoins may be either structural or decorative. Architects and builders use quoins to give the impression of strength and firmness to the outline of a building...
s and trim
Molding (decorative)
Molding or moulding is a strip of material with various profiles used to cover transitions between surfaces or for decoration. It is traditionally made from solid milled wood or plaster but may be made from plastic or reformed wood...
remaining. Until that time, it had not been significantly altered.
The ruin
Ruins
Ruins are the remains of human-made architecture: structures that were once complete, as time went by, have fallen into a state of partial or complete disrepair, due to lack of maintenance or deliberate acts of destruction...
was recorded photographically as part of the Historic American Buildings Survey
Historic American Buildings Survey
The Historic American Buildings Survey , Historic American Engineering Record , and Historic American Landscapes Survey are programs of the National Park Service established for the purpose of documenting historic places. Records consists of measured drawings, archival photographs, and written...
of the National Park Service
National Park Service
The National Park Service is the U.S. federal agency that manages all national parks, many national monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations...
cataloged at the Library of Congress
Library of Congress
The Library of Congress is the research library of the United States Congress, de facto national library of the United States, and the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States. Located in three buildings in Washington, D.C., it is the largest library in the world by shelf space and...
in both 1936 and 1939.
It was declared a National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
and added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
on 15 April 1970.
The South Carolina Department of Archives and History published a summary of the site as a part of South Carolina history
History of South Carolina
South Carolina is one of the 13 original colonies of the United States. European exploration began in 1540, but the explorers brought European diseases that decimated the local Indian population. It was founded in 1663...
. They describe it as an artifact
Cultural artifact
A cultural artifact is a term used in the social sciences, particularly anthropology, ethnology, and sociology for anything created by humans which gives information about the culture of its creator and users...
of important early French influence in the Carolinas, considered a "stately and picturesque ruin in its own right." They cite the architecture of the outer walls as being "unique in this country."
Currently
, the shell still stands, but the National Park ServiceNational Park Service
The National Park Service is the U.S. federal agency that manages all national parks, many national monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations...
considers it to be in an "Emergency" condition due to major cracks and deformation of the south wall, with collapse likely if no remedial action is taken.
External links
- Brick House Ruins, Charleston County (Edisto Island), at South Carolina Department of Archives and History
- Application for placement on the National Register of Historic PlacesNational Register of Historic PlacesThe National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
on file with the South Carolina Department of Archives and History