Runnymede was a plantation home at 3760 Ashley River Road near Charleston, South Carolina. The land borders Magnolia Gardens to the southeast.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b2/Runnymede_-_house_ruins.jpg/220px-Runnymede_-_house_ruins.jpg)
The plantation existed at least by 1705 when John Cattell acquired the tract.[1] John Julius Pringle acquired the plantation in 1795 after a fire destroyed the original house.[1] He changed the name of the plantation from Greenville to Susan's Place (a reference to his wife), and still later, changed the named to Runnymede.[1] The name is sometimes spelled Runnymeade.[1] During the Civil War, Union forces burned the second house, and it was replaced in 1882 with a third house by Charles C. Pinckney.[1] Both the second and third houses were built on the foundations of the first house.[1]
In 1898, Runnymede, which was 1475 acres at the time,[2] was sold by order of the court, and Mrs. C.C. Pinckney bought the plantation for $200, but the land was subject to a $12,000 mortgage and also a mining lease.[3]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6a/Charles_Fraser_-_Runnymede_1800.jpg/220px-Charles_Fraser_-_Runnymede_1800.jpg)
The house burned on September 10, 2002. Both the main house and a detached, two-story kitchen house to the north were destroyed. The kitchen's chimney is now the tallest structure on the land.[1] The investigation into the fire closed in November 2002 without finding a cause.[4] The plantation had been bought by nearby property owners Floyd and Shirley Whitfield in 1997.[5]
The house was open to the public infrequently but was open at times including 1919,[6] 1929,[7] and 1938.[8] Guests included 20th century painter William Posey Silva.[9]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/25/Runnymede_Plantation_%281917%29.jpg/220px-Runnymede_Plantation_%281917%29.jpg)
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g Behre, Robert (September 12, 2002). "Cause of Runnymede blaze remains mystery". News and Courier. Charleston, South Carolina. p. A1.
- ^ "H.H. DeLeon, Auctioneer [advertisement]". News and Courier. Charleston, South Carolina. September 6, 1898. p. 5.
- ^ "Pinckney Property Sold". Evening Post. Charleston, South Carolina. September 29, 1898. p. 5.
- ^ Behre, Robert (November 23, 2002). "No cause determined in Runnymede fire". News and Courier. Charleston, South Carolina. p. B1.
- ^ Walker, Tyrone (September 11, 2002). "Plantation home burns". News and Courier. Charleston, South Carolina: News and Courier. p. A1.
- ^ "Picturesque Trip Up Ashley River". Evening Post. Charleston, South Carolina. April 10, 1919. p. 9.
- ^ "Runnymede Open for a Single Day". News and Courier. Charleston, South Carolina. March 29, 1929. p. 3.
- ^ "Do You Know Your Charleston: Runnymede". News and Courier. Charleston, South Carolina. March 14, 1938. p. 10.
- ^ "Noted Artist to Be at Runnymede". News and Courier. Charleston, South Carolina. March 19, 1927. p. 8.