The Beauty of Charleston

Just six hours away from our home in North Carolina, we can visit the city of Charleston, South Carolina, and it almost feels like being in another country.  I say this because the old historic part of Charleston has a very old-world look and feel to it.  We usually hear at least one foreign language spoken while we're there -- often French, sometimes German, Japanese, and the King's English, spoken with a British accent.  😉   

  Charleston was founded by the British in 1670 as Charles Town, named for King Charles II.  Charleston was originally located at Albemarle Point on the west bank of the Ashley River (now Charles Towne Landing).  That site was abandoned in 1680 for its current location in Charleston Harbor.  The spelling was changed to Charleston in 1783, when the city was incorporated at the end of the Revolutionary War.    Charleston's unique culture blends traditional American southern, English, French, and West African elements.  These influences are present in the city's architecture and food, among other things.  The architecture includes British Georgian and Colonial,   

      French,  

  

and Antebellum styles.       

  The architecture is one of the things I love most about this city.  The porch columns and the porches themselves --  

   

   

  The charming shutters (and shutter dogs) in the French Quarter always catch my eye.      

   

   

     I thought these shutters were the perfect shade of robin's egg blue.  This is one of the homes we toured on the house and garden tour.      

      The wrought iron gates and fences make my heart beat a little faster...  

   

  An African American blacksmith, Philip Simmons, is now famous for the gates he created in Charleston.  Mr. Simmons spent 78 years as a blacksmith, focusing on decorative iron work.  Examples of his work, including wrought iron gates, window grilles, and shutter dogs can be seen throughout Charleston and the rest of the South Carolina Lowcountry.  His pieces are displayed in the Smithsonian Museum, South Carolina State Museum, and even in Paris, France and China.  If you search "Philip Simmons gates" you can find images of his beautiful creations.         

   

   

         

    Maybe it's just me, but I think this fence looks something less than hospitable...    

     I'm inclined to say it looks forbidding, actually.  Those are some serious spikes, no?  This is the Miles Brewton house, and you can read more about it, and the reason for this wicked-looking fence, here.  The house was completed in 1769 and is still owned and inhabited by Brewton family descendants today.  

    The flower boxes are overflowing with color, texture, and sheer beauty.     

     

   

     

   

    

   

    

   

    I hope you enjoyed reading a little about the history of Charleston and looking at the images here.  Do you have a favorite city that you love to visit?     I'll be linking to "Metamorphosis Monday," hosted by Susan at Between Naps on the Porch.  I'm glad you stopped by House at Forest Manor -- I so appreciate your visits and comments.  Have a wonderful week!!   Blessings,