Lowndes Grove

Lowndes Grove or The Grove or Grove Farm is a house that was built about 1786 on the Ashley River in Charleston, South Carolina. It is situated on a triangular plot at St. Margaret Street, 5th Avenue and 6th Avenue. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on August 30, 1978.

History

John Gibbes was built on a house and the garden with greenhouses in The Grove before the American Revolutionary War. The house was probably burned down by British troops in 1779, but the gardens were preserved. To 1786 the estate of George Abbot Hall was purchased. Because his statement of assets in 1791 mentioned a house on the property, it is assumed that the present house was built around 1786.

The Grove was a quite popular place for the holding of duels, including between the two generals Christopher Gadsden and Robert Howe. The property bought in 1803 William Lowndes, who was elected to the Congress of the United States and remained a deputy until he renounced in 1822 for health reasons for re-election.

After the estate had changed several times the owner was a businessman from Charleston, Frederick W. Wagener, owner of the house and grounds. He was president of the South Carolina Inter- State and West Indian Exposition and its main organizer; the exhibition was 1901-1902 on his 250 acres ( 100 hectares) of land instead. The house on Lowndes Grove was used as the Woman's Building.

Architecture

The building is a two and a half storey house on a raised foundation. Base and floor are built of plastered brick, the rest of the house is built in timber frame construction. The original style of the house probably corresponded Georgian architecture, but the actual appearance of the house is unknown due to the numerous renovations. It probably had a double portico, which was rebuilt in 1830 in a porch with Doric columns and balustrade that comprises five yokes. The three middle sections stand out from the facade front. They are provided with cornice and Oculus. The porch and the house have pediments with tooth ornaments. During the renovation in 1830, the house was extended to the rear. The sides of the house have mullioned windows with twice nine fields for pushing.

The house has a gable roof, which was covered again in the 1920s with terracotta roof tiles. Two dormers are located at both ends, on the back there are three. The house has two interior chimneys, their covers are on consoles.

Inside on the ground floor of four rooms, which are arranged around the central hall. Ceilings and walls are plastered, the floors in original condition. Most rooms are equipped with cornices, ceiling medallions and carved fireplace mantels. In the first and second floors, the rooms were designed on the northwest side in Regency style, when the house was extended. The area lying to the north- east was severely damaged by fire in the 20th century. and then rebuilt as a kitchen and library. In the stairwell, a spiral staircase leads upstairs daylight is admitted through a round skylight. Additional pictures are available.