| Charleston is another of the old southern towns full of large
houses owned by the plantation owners as town houses and the rich business
people who came with the original colonists. Pre the civil war, over 80% of
the population consisted of slaves. Today it was definitely cool and the
tourists who braved the weather for the tours wrapped up warm from the
biting wind. |  |
 |
The really big houses all overlook the bay and have the traditional shady
balconies, often on all three stories. They are always on the same side of
the house to take advantage of the afternoon sun.. |
| The balconies and columns are almost always additions to the
original houses added at a time when it was a way of displaying your wealth.
Two and even three storey columns are on most of the houses on this road. |  |
 | Some entrances
are particularly grand although quite what the pigs say, I'm not sure.... |
| Many houses are of brick but there are also many which are
stuccoed and painted, as in this case. This is a particularly fine example.
The kitchens and slave quarters were usually separate. Here they are just
over to the left out of picture. |  |
 | Here the
columns have been added but are certainly on a grand scale. It was
fashionable at the time |
| Very few houses are open to the public but this one is. It is the
Edmonston-Alston house, named after the first two owners. The original owner
was a cotton shipper but he almost went bankrupt when the price of cotton
fell. He sold the house to ease his cash flow. |  |
 | We went on a
guided tour. One of the interesting items was this knife box (one of a
pair), and unusual in that it holds forks and spoons as well. The lid is
normally hinged, but in this example it comes down to seal the box.. |
| English influence is everywhere. This is a Purdey single-barrel
shotgun, worth a lot of money then, and priceless today. It still shows
exquisite workmanship. It probably shot fairly well too. |  |
 | The first
floor rooms all have big openings allowing a through flow of air, which was
essential in the climate when this was the only form of air conditioning.
The ladies were accomplished musicians as witnessed by this pedal harp. |
| Back in the town we found this row of Georgian shops and houses.
It is one of the longest original rows in the USA. |  |
 | The civic
buildings are fairly impressive too. It was important for the town to create
the right image even then. |
| Opposite the previous building is the church of St Michael with
its graveyard behind. Two of the signatories of the Declaration of
Independence are buried there. For the US, this is serious history. |  |
 | Although not
quite so obvious, Charleston is famous for its 'hidden' gardens. The gates
of this house were open enabling us to spot these formal gardens, another
example of the English heritage of this town. |
|