Following up on my last post about seeing the French Huguenot Church from the parking garage…
The spire of St. Philips Church dominates the view in this direction. You can just make out a sliver of the French Huguenot Church’s decorative top in the lower right corner.
St. Philips Church, Charleston, Taken from parking garage
From the other direction, at street level.
St. Philips Church, Charleston, top of the wrought iron gate
The gate from the inside of the fence, looking towards the Dock Street Theater and French Huguenot Church.
Detail of the Gate
St. Philips Church, Charleston, SC
February 27, 2024
I have parked in the upper floors of the Cumberland Street garage many times, but never had noticed how the Gothic details of the French Huguenot Church were visible.
French Huguenot Church, Charleston
I was more familiar with this view, at street level.
French Huguenot Church, Charleston
It was a dull day so the pink doesn’t seem as striking as when the sun is fully out, but it is still pink. See my post from just over a year ago, French Huguenot Church, Pink for a comparison.
French Huguenot Church, Charleston
French Huguenot Church, Charleston, SC
February 27, 2024
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.
Up Through the Staircase
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.
Looking Across a Tread of the Staircase
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.
Door Under Staircase From Outside
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.
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.
Window Behind the Cantilevered Staircase
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.
Window From Outside
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.
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.
French Huguenot Church, Charleston
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
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.
Oval Drawing Room Rounded Mirrors
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.
Oval Drawing Room Rounded Mirrors, Open door that leads to hallway
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.
Strawberry Chapel from the back of the three acre property, at least as far back as it is cleared.
Strawberry Chapel
This tree has been witness to a lot of history.
Strawberry Chapel
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.
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.
Strawberry Chapel Back Door and Window
And the same view again, including the decorative window at the peak.
Strawberry Chapel Back Door and Window
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.
Strawberry Chapel Side Door
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.
The grounds at Strawberry Chapel have a number of haphazardly placed brick-walled enclosures for family burial plots.
Strawberry Chapel
With doors on three sides, the layout maximized any available air flow for gatherings during the hot low-country summers.
Strawberry Chapel
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.
Strawberry Chapel
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.
Strawberry Chapel
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.
