Fairfield Plantation
National Register Listing
Street Address:
N of McClellanville (Charleston County)
NRHP Nomination
Record Number:
S10817710079
Description and Narrative:
Built ca. 1730, Fairfield Plantation is one of the oldest houses in the Santee River area of South Carolina. Notable as an excellent example of a wooden plantation house, Fairfield Plantation Fairfield is also important as the home of South Carolinians of prominence in both political and military service, such as Jacob Motte and Thomas Pinckney. Fairfield was built by the Lynch family who owned much of the land along the banks of the South Santee River. The hard-burned brick of the basement foundation, the floor plan, and the Georgian motifs suggest a date ca. 1730. An inscription etched in the mortar of one of the chimney which reads “January 27, 1766-completed” probably refers to the completion of the second floor additions and the new chimney added by Jacob Motte. Built of clapboards above a raised brick foundation, this two-story house features central porches on the south and north elevations. Both porches at one time were nearly identical, with pediments and their roofs supported by six Doric columns, two of which are engaged. The north side porch has since been altered. The porches, along with the small wings with parapets on the north side, were probably added by Thomas Pinckney at the end of the 18th century. The medium hipped roof is topped by two cross-shaped interior chimneys; the narrow cornice is embellished with simple diminutive brackets. The only dependency is a pumphouse built in the 1920s. Listed in the National Register July 25, 1974.
Period of Significance:
circa 1730;1766;18th century
Level of Significance:
State
Area of Significance:
Politics/Government;Agriculture;Architecture
National Register Determination:
listed
Date of Certification:
July 25 1974
