The two-story house was constructed with exterior walls of brick imported from Boston, such brick being harder and denser than the local kind. The interior of the home was primarily constructed of locally produced lumber which had been aged seven years. Construction also utilized local gravel and sand brought to the site from the Pon Pon.[4]
It served as the plantation house for a 300-acre (120 ha) plantation.[2] The estate was acquired in 1798 by the Jenkins family which maintains ownership to this day.
In 1929 the house caught fire, with its wooden portion largely reduced to ashes and only its brick walls with stuccoedquoins and trim remaining.[3] Until that time, it had not been significantly altered.
The South Carolina Department of Archives and History published a summary of the site as a part of South Carolina history.[4] They describe it as an artifact of important early French influence in the Carolinas, considered a "stately and picturesque ruin in its own right." They cite the architecture of the outer walls as being "unique in this country."[4]
Preservation efforts
Following the fire of 1929, some stabilization was performed. Metal supports were used to brace some openings, but their expansion over time has actually damaged some of the material. In addition, the two chimneys (shown in the main photo above) had their top portions removed to prevent damaging the walls in case of collapse. In February 2013, the National Park Service considered the ruins to be in "emergency" condition due to the major cracks and deformation of the south wall.[7] In 2018, the structure was stabilized. Preservation efforts are ongoing.[8]
^ abcdefg"Brick House Ruin". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Archived from the original on October 23, 2007. Retrieved February 16, 2008.