Mansfield Plantation
Encyclopedia
Mansfield Plantation is a well-preserved antebellum
rice plantation, established in 1718 on the banks of the Black River
in historic Georgetown, South Carolina
, U.S. Spanning nearly 1000 acres (4 km²) of pine forest, rice fields and cypress swamps, Mansfield Plantation was once one of the largest rice producing plantations in the country. Mansfield, along with adjacent rice plantations up and down the Black River, provided much of Europe with "Carolina Gold" rice during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Rice growing was made possible by 1) perfecting irrigation techniques using tidal water and manmade dykes; 2) experimentation with natural fertilizers; 3) and most notably, African-American slave labor. After the American Civil War
, rice production became too expensive and soon the plantations fell into bankruptcy and were sold off to new owners.
Today, Mansfield Plantation is preserved as an authentic rice plantation, complete with the original plantation home, a school house, live oak
avenue ("oak alley"), chapel, guest house and grounds. It also has the only remaining winnowing barn
in Georgetown County, where rice grains were processed for shipment. Undergoing restoration is a slave village of 7 slave cabins and a chapel. As of 2009, the entire plantation is undergoing a privately-funded, massive restoration project to keep its distinct history alive for generations to come. It is said to be the only American plantation be saved from development and reclaimed by a direct descendent of the original owners.
Mansfield Plantation has been featured in numerous films, documentaries and television shows. It served as the backdrop for scenes from Mel Gibson's 2000 film, The Patriot
. In 2006, the Fox network
filmed two segments of their primetime television series Treasure Hunters at Mansfield and the Fine Living Network filmed a documentary at Mansfield Plantation for their television series Windshield America.
Antebellum architecture
Antebellum architecture is a term used to describe the characteristic neoclassical architectural style of the Southern United States, especially the Old South, from after the birth of the United States in the American Revolution, to the start of the American Civil War...
rice plantation, established in 1718 on the banks of the Black River
Black River (South Carolina)
The Black River is a blackwater river in South Carolina in the United States....
in historic Georgetown, South Carolina
Georgetown, South Carolina
Georgetown is the third oldest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina and the county seat of Georgetown County, in the Low Country. Located on Winyah Bay at the confluence of the Great Pee Dee River, Waccamaw River, and Sampit River, Georgetown is the second largest seaport in South Carolina,...
, U.S. Spanning nearly 1000 acres (4 km²) of pine forest, rice fields and cypress swamps, Mansfield Plantation was once one of the largest rice producing plantations in the country. Mansfield, along with adjacent rice plantations up and down the Black River, provided much of Europe with "Carolina Gold" rice during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Rice growing was made possible by 1) perfecting irrigation techniques using tidal water and manmade dykes; 2) experimentation with natural fertilizers; 3) and most notably, African-American slave labor. After the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, rice production became too expensive and soon the plantations fell into bankruptcy and were sold off to new owners.
Today, Mansfield Plantation is preserved as an authentic rice plantation, complete with the original plantation home, a school house, live oak
Live oak
Live oak , also known as the southern live oak, is a normally evergreen oak tree native to the southeastern United States...
avenue ("oak alley"), chapel, guest house and grounds. It also has the only remaining winnowing barn
Winnowing barn
Winnowing barns were commonly found in South Carolina on antebellum rice plantations. A winnowing barn consists of a large shed on tall posts with a hole in the floor. Raw, husked rice was carried up into the barn by workers and then the grain was forced through the small hole...
in Georgetown County, where rice grains were processed for shipment. Undergoing restoration is a slave village of 7 slave cabins and a chapel. As of 2009, the entire plantation is undergoing a privately-funded, massive restoration project to keep its distinct history alive for generations to come. It is said to be the only American plantation be saved from development and reclaimed by a direct descendent of the original owners.
Mansfield Plantation has been featured in numerous films, documentaries and television shows. It served as the backdrop for scenes from Mel Gibson's 2000 film, The Patriot
The Patriot (2000 film)
The Patriot is a 2000 historical war film directed by Roland Emmerich, written by Robert Rodat, and starring Mel Gibson, Chris Cooper, and Heath Ledger. It was produced by the Mutual Film Company and Centropolis Entertainment and was distributed by Columbia Pictures...
. In 2006, the Fox network
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
filmed two segments of their primetime television series Treasure Hunters at Mansfield and the Fine Living Network filmed a documentary at Mansfield Plantation for their television series Windshield America.