The 1700s Plantation That Refused Modernization Is Now America’s Purest Colonial Experience

Drayton Hall, South Carolina

Drayton Hall sits on the Ashley River like a ghost from 1738.

This Georgian mansion survived the Civil War, two world wars, and countless storms without major changes. No plumbing, no electricity, no modern fixes. Just pure Colonial America frozen in time.

Here’s how the place kept history alive for nearly three centuries.

A Georgian Masterpiece on the Ashley River

John Drayton bought 630 acres along the Ashley River in 1738. At just 23 years old, he used money from his inheritance to build his estate.

Testing of wood from the house shows construction finished around 1752. Workers cut the attic timbers during winter 1747-48.

Unlike other mansions in the area, Drayton Hall survived both the Revolutionary and Civil Wars. The house withstood the powerful Charleston earthquake of 1886 while its smaller service buildings collapsed from natural disasters.

Architecture Inspired by Italian Masters

The front of the house features a two-story porch that copies a design from Villa Cornaro in Italy. Italian architect Andrea Palladio created this style in 1551.

The original layout included walkways connecting the main house to two brick buildings on each side. Newspapers of the time called the property and its grounds the “Palace and Gardens.”

This design appeared much earlier than similar homes in Virginia. Experts now consider Drayton Hall the oldest example of Palladian architecture in America.

The Family That Built a Dynasty

Thomas Drayton came from Barbados in 1675 and established Magnolia Plantation next door. As his third son, John knew he wouldn’t inherit the family estate, so he built his own.

By 1860, the Drayton family owned about 76,000 acres across South Carolina and Georgia. Their wealth came from crops grown and harvested by hundreds of enslaved workers.

Charles Drayton, the third owner, noted in 1833 that debates about slavery in Europe would soon affect America. He called this issue “the great Slave question.”

Skilled Hands That Built the House

Enslaved workers built Drayton Hall using skills passed down through generations. Their fingerprints remain visible in some of the bricks they made by hand.

A diary from 1798 mentions Carolina, an enslaved bricklayer who spent 10 days building a lime furnace. Charles Drayton tracked such work in his detailed records.

Archaeologists have found over one million objects on the property, from tools to personal items. Many enslaved people received names from Roman mythology, a common practice among wealthy enslavers.

When British Troops Moved In

British forces took over Drayton Hall during the Revolutionary War. They used the house as a headquarters while fighting to control Charleston.

Early on March 29, 1780, three British regiments gathered at the property. By 3:00 a.m., soldiers and cavalry prepared to cross the Ashley River to attack the city.

Rebecca Perry Drayton managed the estate during this difficult time. At just 21 years old, this young widow protected the property while raising her children amid the British occupation.

How Yellow Flags Saved the House

Dr. John Drayton worked as a surgeon during the Civil War. He treated workers building Charleston’s defenses but fled when Union forces approached in February 1865.

Federal troops burned almost every plantation they found along the Ashley River. Somehow, Drayton Hall survived when others did not.

Yellow flags posted at the entrance warned of smallpox inside the house. Soldiers, already weak from poor conditions, avoided the building fearing this deadly disease. This clever tactic saved the mansion from destruction.

Elegance Preserved in Brick and Wood

The main staircase stretches 27 feet high with hand-carved mahogany details. Workers originally stained these railings bright red to impress visitors.

The ground floor follows a balanced design with matching rooms on each side. Fine wooden panels line the walls, once painted seafoam green with detailed carvings.

Fireplaces throughout the house feature decorative stonework based on popular English designs. In the basement kitchen, a massive hearth provided cooking space for household meals.

A Seven-Seat Brick Privy

The brick outhouse at Drayton Hall stands out for its unusual design. Most colonial bathrooms were simple wooden structures with one or two seats, but this one held seven.

Fancy decorative touches appear even on this everyday building. Such architectural details rarely appeared on service structures at other plantations.

This bathroom served both family members and guests, while enslaved workers handled waste removal. Few similar buildings from this time period still exist today.

Sacred Ground in the Woods

The African American cemetery at Drayton Hall dates back to at least 1790. This burial ground holds the remains of people who worked on the plantation.

Richmond Bowens, born at Drayton Hall in 1908, asked that the cemetery stay in its natural state. As a descendant of enslaved people, he wanted the space kept simple without fancy landscaping.

Studies show the burial ground contains many more graves than first thought. A memorial at the entrance features a design with connected circles symbolizing chains and a bird representing freedom.

Phosphate Mining Restores Fortune

After the Civil War, the Drayton family lost nearly everything. Their Confederate money became worthless, leaving them struggling financially.

In 1881, Charles Drayton found a new source of income through phosphate mining. He built a railroad, worker housing, and stores to support this operation on the property.

The family constructed a caretaker’s house in 1870 to protect the main building. Mining profits paid for repairs to the mansion, including a new roof and garden improvements by 1885.

Preservation Without Restoration

The National Trust bought Drayton Hall in 1974 after seven generations of family ownership. They decided to preserve the house in its existing state rather than restore it to a specific time period.

This approach keeps all the changes and marks of time visible for study. The house has no modern conveniences—no electricity, plumbing, or heating systems.

Before selling the property, Charlotta Drayton insisted the house remain unmodernized. This decision allows visitors today to see an authentic historic building rather than a recreated version.

Visiting Drayton Hall

Drayton Hall sits 15 miles northwest of Charleston on Ashley River Road. The site opens daily from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, with last admission at 3:30 pm. Guided house tours run throughout the day and last approximately 45 minutes.

Tours cover the cellar, first floor, and second floor of the main house. The African American cemetery, garden, visitor center, and museum galleries require no additional fee. These areas can be explored at your own pace after the house tour.

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