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Eastover in Richland County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
 

Kensington

 
 
Kensington Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Mike Stroud, May 9, 2010
1. Kensington Marker
Inscription. (Front text)
This plantation on the Wateree River features a remarkable Italianate Revival house built in 1852-54. Designed by Charleston architects Edward C. Jones and Francis D. Lee, it was built for Matthew Richard Singleton (1817-1854) and Martha Kinloch Singleton (1818-1892). Jacob Stroyer described life as a slave here in his memoir, first published in 1879.

(Reverse text)
Kensington was owned by members of the Singleton, Hamer, and Lanham families until the late twentieth century, and though the house fell into disrepair the land was farmed for many years. Kensington was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1971. It was sold to Union Camp (later International Paper) in 1981, restored in 1983-84, and opened for educational programs.
 
Erected 2005 by The Scarborough-Hamer Foundation. (Marker Number 40-129.)
 
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African AmericansAgricultureArchitectureEducationIndustry & CommerceSettlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1879.
 
Location. 33° 52.139′ N, 80° 39.503′ W. Marker is in Eastover, South Carolina, in Richland County. Marker is at the intersection
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of Kensington Mansion Driveway and McCords Ferry Road (U.S. 601) on Kensington Mansion Driveway. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Eastover SC 29044, United States of America. Touch for directions.
 
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 8 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. St. Phillip A.M.E. Church (approx. 1.4 miles away); Eastover (approx. 2.2 miles away); Richland Presbyterian Church (approx. 3 miles away); Kingville (approx. 5 miles away); Gadsden (approx. 6˝ miles away); Congaree River Ferries (approx. 7.4 miles away); Site of Rebecca Motte's Home (approx. 7˝ miles away); John M. Bates Bridge (approx. 7.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Eastover.
 
Regarding Kensington. Construction of the Kensington Plantation House began in 1851 and was completed in 1853. Its builder, Colonel Richard Singleton, was a wealthy planter of cotton. His sister was Angelica Singleton Van Buren, daughter-in-law and hostess of President Martin Van Buren in the White House. The design is unique in its predominantly Italianate elaboration wedged into a plain farmhouse. In ways, this juxtaposition can be seen as reflecting Singleton, and others like him in South Carolina’s ante-bellum era. Born in a world totally dependent upon agriculture, Singleton sought the luxury and some of the pretense of great wealth in the international sense. Kensington presents contrasts between the avant-garde and
Kensington Marker, reverse side image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Mike Stroud, May 9, 2010
2. Kensington Marker, reverse side
the very insular. In feeling, Kensington is a plain South Carolina farmhouse wrapped around an ambitious central section. The central portion of the building is domed with a copper roof surmounted by an iron balustrade. The central portion is flanked by lower wings that have arched colonnades. On the land front is a porte-cochere with arches and pilasters in the Corinthian style with restrained animals motifs. The house is wood, set upon a raised brick basement. The principal hall reaches two-and-one-half stories up to the dome, which contains a skylight of glass. A balcony surrounds the hall at the second floor level. Listed in the National Register January 25, 1971. (South Carolina Department of Archives and History)
 
Also see . . .  Jacob Stroyer. Wikipedia article (Submitted on December 14, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.) 
 
Kensington Marker at Kensington Mansion Driveway image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Mike Stroud, May 9, 2010
3. Kensington Marker at Kensington Mansion Driveway
Kensington Marker, seen near McCords Ferry Road (US 601) image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Mike Stroud, May 9, 2010
4. Kensington Marker, seen near McCords Ferry Road (US 601)
Kensington Mansion image. Click for full size.
South Carolina Department of Archives and History
5. Kensington Mansion
National Register of Historic Places: Kensington Plantation House ** (added 1971 - Building - #71000806) • Architectural Style: Second Empire • Historic Person: Singleton, Col. Richard • Significant Year: 1853, 1851 • Area of Significance: Agriculture, Architecture, Landscape Architecture • Period of Significance: 1850-1874 •
Kensington Mansion image. Click for full size.
South Carolina Department of Archives and History
6. Kensington Mansion
Kensington Mansion, rear view image. Click for full size.
South Carolina Department of Archives and History
7. Kensington Mansion, rear view
Kensington image. Click for full size.
Historic American Buildings Survey, Harlan Hambright, November 1982
8. Kensington
Historic American Engineering Record ,HABS SC,40-EAST.V,1-2
Kensington image. Click for full size.
Historic American Buildings Survey, Harlan Hambright, November 1982
9. Kensington
Historic American Engineering Record ,HABS SC,40-EAST.V,1-3
 
 
Credits. This page was last revised on December 14, 2019. It was originally submitted on July 19, 2010, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 1,664 times since then and 71 times this year. Photos:   1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. submitted on July 19, 2010, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina.

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Mar. 29, 2024