Recently we went to nearby Drayton Hall, an 18th century rice plantation. This is  the only plantation house on the Ashley River to survive intact through both the Revolutionary and Civil wars, it is a National Historic Landmark.

The Ashley River runs down to Charleston and is the home of many of the largest and oldest rice plantations. These include Middleton, Magnolia, Runnymede, as well as Drayton Hall. The Ashley River was the ‘highway’ of the plantation era.

Built circa 1738 there is a need for constant maintenance and research. I had no idea there was an ongoing ‘dig’ in the cellar area. It was also open for visits. It seems when adding a stabilizing jack it was discovered the original terra-cotta tiles were in place.  Also moving a few tiles uncovered a storage area under pavers.

When I found we could enter the cellar out came a few short lens with wider ‘f’ stops to compensate for it being a cellar..’ AKA dark.

Below are images shot from the central area with light from the open doors and windows.

The closed doors here lead to the side of the building. Front and back doors were open for air and light.

Below is the open back door. The tree line seen is on the banks of the Ashley River. We mention shooting on the Ashley, and the marshes there, often in this site. Most times it is from behind Magnolia Plantation which is just a few miles up river from that tree line.

As I shot the cellar I knew the final photographs would be black and white. The format makes the images so much more interesting and the details much cleaner.

Drayton Hall, Charleston, South Carolina.