Fenwick Castle Returns to Ruins? or Is the new Charleston ByPass going to completely destroy the plantation? Or encroachment by condos, townhouses & strip malls & clear cutting? ..as these developers don't follow the laws put into place.. nor do the 'right thing'?
Words from 1920's below and with historical 'errors'. (Edward's father, John, built the plantation not his son, Edward Sr.)
Head Quarters House or Fenwick Castle, John's Island. Cornwallis made his headquarters at one time in this old house now rapidly falling into ruin. It was built by one of South Carolina's early settlers, Lord Ripon (Edward Fenwick(e)), who dropped his title. Nearby, the first owner laid out a race course, but no trace of it remains now. ~~~
John Fenwick's, Fenwick Castle, Johns Island, Sc
Back to ruins? NO! Fenwick is alive and well, but it is fighting its own internal atrophy besides fighting the damage us humans are doing to the Island. The local Historic Charleston Foundation includes it on its list of Endangered Landmarks in the Carolina Lowcountry. In February 1972, Fenwick was added to the list of National Registry of Historic Places (Thanks to the previous owners Nellie & Claude Blanchard and son, Robert). But unfortunately that did not keep Charter Hospital from damaging the house and grounds in the 1980's.
Today the planation home sits on a much smaller, 55-acre site, down from its original four thousand + acres, but one that still includes an impressive avenue of Oaks & coach house. Fenwick Hall continues to go through a critical, long term restoration. It is currently privately owned and not open to the public, but definitely has a following.
Early 1900'.s..no one had the money or interest to restore the home. The house was 'shunned' for years due to stories. The land was leased to farmers.
Today careless growth encroaches terribly on the plantation grounds: First, Portrait Homes (The Commons at Fenwick) continues to encroach on the plantation by destroying vegetation, clear cutting and building too close to property lines for the sake of the mighty dollar. They have proven they care nothing about Fenwick Hall Plantation and the environment. Please do not support Portrait Homes until they 'do the right things' and repair the destruction that they have done. Now that Portrait Homes has filed for bankruptcy, they have gotten out of being held accountable for their actions...
Second, "The Preservation at Fenwick Plantation" hides its true colors by using key words like 'preservation, the environment, green building, nature'. But it only wants to squeeze as many multi-million dollar homes on the Stono River as it can with no regard to nature or the former plantation. Faison Development,www.faison.com (& Epic) has clearcut the propery and destroyed the old barge canal and causeway that once served the 4000 acre Fenwick Plantation. Faison is not even a S.Carolina company and could care less about the area.
Please do your research on these properties before you purchase any property or a building from them.
Thank you for your time.
P.S...Feel free to purchase a lot or home from Portrait or Epic that encroaches near the Castle and donate the land back to the plantation as greenspace....hint, hint Portrait & Epic.
P.S.S.... by the time the latest owners of Fenwick Hall purchased the property, it had already be terribly partitioned off in some of the most hurtful ways. Thus the current family is left to fight for the plantations survival and spend needless money fighting it's neighbors to follow the laws which were already put into place to protect it.
John Fenwick, of England,
Ancient cypress interior wood shutters pre-date glass windows. Let's keep out the Indian's, their arrows and bullets during attacks!
Below.. Fenwick Tower througout the years....
1900
1925
2010
Quoines
Henry Whilden owned Fenwick at one time. Anyone know anything about Henry? Also note the "portico" that was once attached to the main entrance about ~1789. Photo taken about 1910~1920.
1730's What the manor house may have looked like in 1730 before the Octagonal wing was added.
Below..Year +2000. Main house during current extensive restoration. Note roof balustrade & window shutters have been removed (but safetly stored). Neither existed on the original building. The roofing material has been replaced with period correct 'slate'. The recent installation of the slate took eight months.... to do it right. Great job roofers!
2000+, Fenwick Hall -windows/trim/structural/new slate roofing/hardware restoration. Note no pond, no landscaping = a clear slate..
2009. HeadQuarters Island land was once part of the Fenwick Plantation. Fenwick Hall was once called "Head Quarters" many years ago during war times. The Blanchard's use the Head Quarters Island as the location to raise their prize cattle. Photographer John R. Hauser..
2009. Twelve Oaks at Fenwick Plantation was also part of the original plantation. This condo property contains the former beautiful Maybank Road entrance to Fenwick. The builder of the condos did save about 98 Grand Trees from being destroyed during construction. Photographer John R. Hauser.
2009. Another photo of the former Maybank Road Entrance. Photographer John R. Hauser.
Replica in Atlanta of Fenwick
Fenwick Replica's Living Room
Fenwick's Replica Breakfast Nook
Fenwick Hall Replica's Pool
Got $200 grand for a boat slip? Pirates Welcome? Doesn't SC have any environmental laws? Florida would never let you destroy wetlands to build homes and or a yacht club. Built on part of the former plantations wetlands.... http://stjohnsyachtharbor.com/
2009. St Johns Marina in Fenwicks' former front yard. Photographer John R. Hauser.
Fenwick Boat Slip? Above--Do you agree that St Johns Yacht Harbor (in Fenwick's front yard) should dedicate a bloat slip on the Stono to the Fenwick Plantation for history's sake?
2009. Go Away! Ghost too! Photographer John R. Hauser. And please don't drive on the grass!
PLEASE SIGN THE "GUESTBOOK" LINK ON BOTTOM OF THE FIRST PAGE (LABELED 'FENWICK HOME PAGE').
