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

Willtown Bluff, Charleston County (S.C. Sec. Rd. 55, Adams Run vicinity)
S1081771007401 S1081771007402 S1081771007403 S1081771007404 S1081771007405
Site
Looking
Northwest
Site
Looking
Southeast
Site
Looking
Northwest
Site
Looking
Northeast
Site
Looking
Southeast
S1081771007406        
Willtown
Plantation
House

(Wilton; New London) Willtown was the second planned town to be established after the relocation of Charleston in 1682. It was one of two South Carolina precincts prior to the 1706 Church Act, and after that date served as a local governmental center (polling place, court of pleas, magistrate court). It was militarily important in the protection of the frontier and served as a regional commercial center. Willtown was located on a 25 foot high bluff overlooking the South Edisto River, called the Pon Pon River in the 18th century. The town site is almost all level, its lawn interspersed with large oak trees. Only the northern section is wooded and three early-nineteenth century buildings are located on the cleared portion: the ca. 1836 Parsonage, the ca. 1820 Willtown Plantation House, and the remains of a single column of the ca. 1836 Episcopal church. Unexposed remains are of a colonial village thought to have had 80 houses. The town was divided into 62 blocks with most having four one-acre lots. There were 17 streets with blocks set aside for an Episcopal church and a school. A market and a town garden were also provided locations. Listed in the National Register January 8, 1974.

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.