South Carolina Department of Archives and History
National Register Properties in South Carolina

Bleak Hall Plantation Outbuildings, Charleston County (off S.C. Hwy. 174, Edisto Island)
S1081771005101 S1081771005102 S1081771005103 S1081771005104 S1081771005105
Cubicle Building
Facade
Cubicle Building
Right Oblique
Cubicle Building
Left Oblique
Ice House
Facade
Ice House
Left Oblique
S1081771005106 S1081771005107 S1081771005108 S1081771005109 S1081771005110
Ice House
Left Elevation
Ice House
Left Rear
Oblique
Ice House
Rear Elevation
Ice House
Right Rear
Oblique
Ice House
Right Elevation
S1081771005111 S1081771005112 S1081771005113 S1081771005114  
Ice House
Right Oblique
Equipment Shed Equipment Shed Equipment Shed

Though the main house of Bleak Hall Plantation was destroyed by fire, the three remaining outbuildings, probably constructed in the 1840s by John Townsend, are excellent representatives of the Gothic Revival architecture utilized in the construction of this plantation. Particularly noteworthy is the structure and design of the perfectly preserved icehouse with its mock tracery windows and door and the high gabled roof with triangular dormer. A second outbuilding, a rectangular equipment shed, is of tabby construction with a high wooden gable roof covered with cypress shingles. The third outbuilding, a cubicle of tabby construction, was probably used as a smokehouse. John Townsend was born at Bleak Hall in 1799. Inheriting the plantation from his father, Townsend became well known as an advanced agriculturist. He was one of the largest planters of sea island cotton in the state and won many prizes for its quality and length. Bleak Hall cotton was highly valued for lace making in Belgium and France. The gardens were also renowned, the remains of which surround the outbuildings. John Townsend employed a Japanese gardener to lay out and care for the elaborate and exotic gardens. Townsend was also a political leader, serving in the South Carolina House of Representatives and Senate, as a delegate to the Secession Convention, and signer of the Ordinance of Secession. Listed in the National Register March 7, 1973.

View the complete text of the nomination form for this National Register property.

Most National Register properties are privately owned and are not open to the public. The privacy of owners should be respected. Not all properties retain the same integrity as when originally documented and listed in the National Register due to changes and modifications over time.

Images and texts on these pages are intended for research or educational use. Please read our statement on use and reproduction for further information on how to obtain a photocopy or how to cite an item.


Images provided by the South Carolina Department of Archives and History.