“An outstanding piece of antebellum architecture built with rice money.”
City Directories and History: Built ca. 1810, the William Seabrook House established a distinct style of architecture which was reproduced, with minor variations, in
plantation houses subsequently built on Edisto Island. It is the most ornate of the early Republican (Federal) houses which remain on the island. The house is a two-and-one-half story wooden building with dormers over a raised brick
basement. Double-tiered porticos feature pediment, slender columns, and arched entablature. Double flights of steps leading to the first floor portico gracefully disguise the high foundations and contain iron stair railings decorated with initials of original owner. Over the first floor entrance and in gable of portico are beautiful semi-elliptical fanlights, also sidelights at both front doorways and ornate transom over second floor entrance.
Fascia and frieze boards outside porch area are in dentil pattern. Tradition attributes design of the house to James Hoban, architect of the White House, who practiced in Charleston in the 1790s. William Seabrook, as part owner of the Edisto Island Ferry, bought the steamboat “W. Seabrook” which performed ferry duty among the islands south of Charleston during the early nineteenth century. One of the landings for this ferry was the Seabrook Plantation which consequently became a significant transportation center. Listed in the National Register May 6, 1971. [Courtesy of the SC Dept. of Archives and History]
Click here for added information.
Scroll down the page for additional images….
IMAGE GALLERY: Image taken of the Seabrook House for R&R.com by photographer Karen Coker – 2019
Stay Connected
Explore history, houses, and stories across S.C. Your membership provides you with updates on regional topics, information on historic research, preservation, and monthly feature articles. But remember R&R wants to hear from you and assist in preserving your own family genealogy and memorabilia.
Visit the Southern Queries – Forum to receive assistance in answering questions, discuss genealogy, and enjoy exploring preservation topics with other members. Also listed are several history and genealogical researchers for hire.
User comments welcome — post at the bottom of this page.
Also see additional images of Edisto at: Charleston Before 1945 and Seabrook Plantation Too
Please enjoy this structure and all those listed in Roots and Recall. But remember each is private property. So view them from a distance or from a public area such as the sidewalk or public road.
Do you have information to share and preserve? Family, school, church, or other older photos and stories are welcome. Send them digitally through the “Share Your Story” link, so they too might be posted on Roots and Recall.
Thanks!