Tag Archives: Architecture

Nathaniel Russell House Staircase, First Floor

January 30, 2023 Ellen Jennings Leave a comment

For such an amazing architectural beauty, this staircase is in a very small space, making it is difficult to photograph it all. Standing underneath and looking up provides an interesting view.

This view shows a small door to the outdoors, which seems out of place. The light shining out of the underside of the staircase allows a view of the construction.

Cantilevered Staircase, First Floor, Trap Door to Root Cellar in Floor

And it sticks out on the other side of the staircase, just like the window in my post about the second floor view.

This is that little door from the outside. One of the museum volunteers told me this was used to access the root cellar, again a bit of practical over maintaining full symmetry.

I’m 5′ 8″ (1.7 M) and when I stood on the step of this door my hair would have grazed the header if I could have stepped in.

Nathaniel Russell House Museum, Charleston, SC
January 27, 2023

This home has been restored to its 1808 appearance and is part of the Historic Charleston Foundation collection.

Additional posts of the Nathaniel Russell House Museum

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Nathaniel Russell House Staircase, Second Floor

January 29, 2023 Ellen Jennings Leave a comment

Built in 1808, the design of a Charleston merchant’s home was all about symmetry. And impressing your neighbors, like this three-story, cantilevered, flying staircase was intended to do.

Window Behind the Cantilevered Staircase, Second Floor

Sometimes, reality didn’t match the rules, and this window is not evenly placed behind the staircase. But it does illustrate that the staircase doesn’t touch the wall for support.

This window seen from the outside, taken from what is now the narrow driveway to the back of the property. My back was at the wall of the First (Scots) Presbyterian Church next door and the trees reflected in the glass are in the graveyard.

Nathaniel Russell House Museum, Charleston, SC
January 27, 2023

This home has been restored to its 1808 appearance and is part of the Historic Charleston Foundation collection.

Additional posts of the Nathaniel Russell House Museum

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French Huguenot Church, Pink

January 29, 2023 Ellen Jennings 3 Comments

Yes, it is pink. And pretty dramatic looking in the Gothic Revival style.

French Huguenot Church, Charleston, Ted just visible in lower right

A gap in vehicle and pedestrian traffic, no leaves on the Crepe Myrtles, and a beautiful sky came together on Friday for an unusual photo opportunity of this landmark.

The church sits across Church street from the Dock Street Theater, and as a fan of reflection images I couldn’t pass this up.

French Huguenot Church Reflected in Dock Street Theater Window

French Huguenot Church, Charleston, SC
January 27, 2023

This and That

Oval Drawing Room, Revisited 2023

January 28, 2023 Ellen Jennings Leave a comment

The symmetry and bling of the historic Nathaniel Russell House is on full display in the oval drawing room.

Oval Drawing Room Ceiling and Chandelier

I am fascinated by these tri-column mirror panels. Rather like a fun-house mirror, just shifting your position an inch or two changes the scene. Here, triplicates of a music stand with varying amounts of a standing harp next to it.

Despite the wealth and import business that would have allowed the Russells to have mahogany doors, the hallway doors are faux. The skill and expense of applying the design to a pine door was valued over real mahogany.

Nathaniel Russell House Museum, Charleston, SC
January 27, 2023

This home has been restored to its 1808 appearance and is part of the Historic Charleston Foundation collection.

Additional posts of the Nathaniel Russell House Museum

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Strawberry Chapel, The Outside From Further Back

October 1, 2022 Ellen Jennings Leave a comment

Strawberry Chapel from the back of the three acre property, at least as far back as it is cleared.

This tree has been witness to a lot of history.

September 10, 2022
Strawberry Chapel
Cordesville, South Carolina

The Anglican Church established “chapels of ease” throughout rural South Carolina in the 1700s for members to attend services close to home without trekking to an actual church.

Built in 1725, Strawberry Chapel is the only remaining structure from the Childsbury settlement on the Cooper River.

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Strawberry Chapel, Windows From Inside

September 29, 2022 Ellen Jennings 4 Comments

I was impressed by the number and size of the glass windows at Strawberry Chapel given that it was built in 1725. Considerable expense would have been involved.

This window on the west side of the building has a view of the brick receiving crypt where remains would be kept prior to a funeral.

Strawberry Chapel Window, Some panes have been replaced due to vandalism

This is the view from the front of the room, one of the fenced burial plots is visible out the left window. I didn’t hear mention if these were the original pews, but most of the floor down the middle is original tile.

And the same view again, including the decorative window at the peak.

The west door has the same view as from that window to the left, shown in the first image. A matching door and small anti-room are on the opposite side.

September 10, 2022
Strawberry Chapel
Cordesville, South Carolina

The Anglican Church established “chapels of ease” throughout rural South Carolina in the 1700s for members to attend services close to home without trekking to an actual church.

Built in 1725, Strawberry Chapel is the only remaining structure from the Childsbury settlement on the Cooper River. The chapel is private property and Ted and I attended an educational / history event on the site.

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Strawberry Chapel, The Outside

September 24, 2022 Ellen Jennings Leave a comment

The grounds at Strawberry Chapel have a number of haphazardly placed brick-walled enclosures for family burial plots.

With doors on three sides, the layout maximized any available air flow for gatherings during the hot low-country summers.

The decedents of this family don’t keep up their enclosed section. The chapel owners have all they can do to maintain the open sections of the grounds.

The rectangular building has a “jerkin head” roof, essentially a gable end that has a hip. The chapel will be celebrating 300 years in 2025 so the structure was a good choice.

September 10, 2022
Strawberry Chapel
Cordesville, South Carolina

The Anglican Church established “chapels of ease” throughout rural South Carolina in the 1700s for members to attend services close to home without trekking to an actual church.

Built in 1725, Strawberry Chapel is the only remaining structure from the Childsbury settlement on the Cooper River.

Landscape, South Carolina

Drayton Hall, First Visit

September 21, 2022 Ellen Jennings Leave a comment

Ted and I visited Drayton Hall, one of the historic plantations on the Ashley River for the first time today.

Due to a confluence of circumstances of our timing, a day where the heat index was going over 90 F (32 C) so they were limiting traffic in the house, and busloads of other visitors we did not go inside.

Drayton Hall, River Side, Some excavation work being done on lower right side of building

From the front, or at least the more opulent, entrance. I found it odd that there were no gardens or plantings immediately around the house.

We’ll go back after it cools off a bit here, and the tourist traffic slows.

Drayton Hall, Charleston, SC
September 21, 2022

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Strawberry Chapel, Windows

September 13, 2022 Ellen Jennings 4 Comments

Strawberry Chapel is rectangular with windows and doors on opposite sides to maximize air flow.

The number of windows and their ornate design hint at the wealth of those that built it.

Several of the windows have well fitting shutters. Sadly, many of the original window panes have been broken by vandals.

September 10, 2022
Strawberry Chapel
Cordesville, South Carolina

The Anglican Church established “chapels of ease” throughout rural South Carolina in the 1700s for members to attend services close to home without trekking to an actual church.

Building

Strawberry Chapel, Sepia Toned

September 11, 2022 Ellen Jennings 5 Comments

The Anglican Church established “chapels of ease” throughout rural South Carolina in the 1700s for members to attend services close to home without trekking to an actual church.

September 10, 2022
Strawberry Chapel
Cordesville, South Carolina