Welcome to Old House Plantation in Ridgeland, South Carolina, a site steeped in the rich history of the American South. This plantation was founded in 1743 by Colonel Daniel Heyward, after receiving a King’s Grant for 500 acres. Heyward was a man of ambition and enterprise, establishing a tidal rice mill and a textile factory, and engaging in import-export trade.
The plantation is also the childhood home of Thomas Heyward Jr., one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. Born here in 1746, Thomas Heyward Jr. grew up amidst the backdrop of a thriving plantation economy. His contributions to the American Revolution underscore the significance of this site in the broader tapestry of American history. It is here that the echoes of the past still resonate, as Thomas Heyward Jr. is interred on the property, a reminder of the area’s deep historical roots.
During the 18th and early 19th centuries, Old House Plantation was a bustling center of agricultural production, primarily focusing on rice cultivation—a crop that played a pivotal role in shaping South Carolina’s economy. The plantation also serves as an important archaeological site, with ongoing excavations revealing insights into plantation life and the structures that once stood here, including the main house, kitchen, and possibly slave quarters.
Although the original Heyward house was lost to fire in 1865, the land continues to provide valuable insights into the past. Recent archaeological excavations sought evidence of a British encampment during the Revolutionary War, as British troops were known to have marched through this area en route to Charleston.
Today, Old House Plantation stands as a testament to the rich historical tapestry of the South Carolina Lowcountry, offering a glimpse into the lives and legacies of the Heyward family and their impact on American history.
