West Ashley in Charleston in Charleston County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

Charles Towne / Old Town Plantation

Old Town Plantation side of the marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Desi Becker, May 29, 2020

1. Old Town Plantation side of the marker

Inscription. Charles Towne The first permanent English settlement in what is now S.C. was established here in 1670. Named for King Charles II, the town was built on Albemarle Point, on the W bank of the Ashley River. It began in 1670-71 with a palisaded fort and a few houses. As it grew, additional lots were laid out across the Ashley River on Oyster Point. In 1680 the proprietors of the colony moved the capital to that site, in present-day downtown Charleston.

Old Town Plantation By 1700 this site was known as "Old Town Plantation," and it was used for farming for almost 300 years. The last owners, Dr. and Mrs. Joseph I. Waring, renovated the overseer’s house as their home and created 80 acres of landscaped gardens. In 1969 they sold more than 650 acres to the state of S.C., which developed a park here for the S.C. Tricentennial of 1970. The site became a state park in 1971.

Erected 2014 by The South Carolina Society, Children of the American Revolution. (Marker Number 10-84.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Architecture • Colonial Era • Forts and Castles • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1670.

Location. 32° 48.461′

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N, 79° 59.187′ W. Marker is in Charleston, South Carolina, in Charleston County. It is in West Ashley. Marker is on Old Town Plantation Road, 1½ miles east of Old Towne Road. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Charleston SC 29407, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. “Brave & Happy Settlements” (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Dr. Henry Woodward (about 400 feet away); A Unique Find Brings Unanswered Questions (about 700 feet away); Site of Old Charles Town (approx. 0.2 miles away); In Need of an Ally (approx. ¼ mile away); Cassique of the Kiawah (approx. ¼ mile away); Foundations of the Southern Plantation (approx. ¼ mile away); a different marker also named Foundations of the Southern Plantation (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Charleston.

Charles Towne / Old Town Plantation Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Desi Becker

2. Charles Towne / Old Town Plantation Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on February 16, 2023. It was originally submitted on May 29, 2020. This page has been viewed 524 times since then and 86 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 29, 2020, by Desi Becker of Brentwood, Missouri. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.

Editor’s want-list for this marker. A photo of the front side of the marker. • Can you help?