Category Archives: Charleston Jail

Black and White, Charleston, Charleston Jail, Historical, Landscape, This and That, What I Saw

Old Charleston Jail, A Finale (6)

May 25, 2019 Ted Jennings - TPJ Photography Leave a comment

The old jail was built in 1802 and finally closed in 1939. During that time thousands of prisoners were locked here. The was also a work house for people considered to be runaway slaves on the property. Hard to imagine but the work house was much more brutal than the jail itself.

Though the last prisoners here were in 1939 there are still reminders people lived here. In the cells and barred rooms the walls have signs of the past.

Lines and symbols, perhaps marking time are here.

We also found names and dates etched into the old cement and plaster.

Even near the high air vents were scratched symbol, and names.

All of this will be gone in a few short months which was why we were here, to document history before another piece is gone.

Note; The old Charleston Jail is being renovated to be used for commercial purposes. A small group was invited to visit and photograph the historical site before it is gone. This is part of that project.

Black and White, Charleston, Charleston Jail, Historical, Landscape, This and That, What I Saw

Old Charleston Jail, A Finale (5)

May 22, 2019 Ted Jennings - TPJ Photography Leave a comment

Charlestons old jail housed some of the areas most notorious criminals, and many non criminals. Built in 1802 it was not a place meant to rehabilitate, it was to punish or just lock away people as deemed necessary.

I’ve been told the truth is people were not kept here for long periods. A solution was determined, permanent or otherwise, as quick as possible.

The first floor was for people of means, death row, or other temporary needs. These images are of the second floor.

This was a difficult place, for criminals, debtors, or poor individuals waiting for trail.

Above is from inside one of the ‘cells’. Basically a cage that can house 11 – 15 people. Age and sex did not matter. Large rooms looked to hold about 4 cages. A single fire place in the corner could provide some heat.

There were windows for air. Also if a prisoner did have any money items could be purchased, and retrieved by rope, from outside the jail.

John and Lavinia Fisher, as well as members of their gang, were imprisoned here. They were famous highwaymen of the era (Lavinia was at one point wrongly accused of being the first female serial killer). Also Pirates still roamed the seas, once Black Beard the pirate closed the harbor and demanded ransom… or something. That story grows in details almost weekly. However, pirates were caught and executed in this jail.

Charleston, Charleston Jail, Historical, Landscape, This and That, What I Saw

Old Charleston Jail, A Finale (4)

May 20, 2019 Ted Jennings - TPJ Photography Leave a comment

This project, and the group invited, was asked to photograph the old jail as it is now. Renovations will begin soon and the structure will be completely changed for commercial purposes.

I began inside by capturing the first things a person would see upon entering the jail. You are immediately enclosed in heavy walls and steel bars.

No place like this exists without tales of strange happenings. We were lucky to have people who are there all the time to explain experiences without the drama of a ‘ghost tour’.

The entrance here is a busy location for temperature changes. Usually sudden cold. No spirits descend on people. Workers have seen a person go by and realize they were the only one in the jail.

The jail has had work and repairs over the years, even an industrial technical school trained here during off hours. The building itself has sensors, alarms, and electronic locks at night. This brings the question of how are there so many foot prints, different sizes, through the fresh plaster and saw dust in the morning. It’s common so the prints are just swept away.

Entering Jail — Old Charleston Jail, A Finale (4)

This part of the jail has a strange history for condemned prisoners.

The prisoner was kept here in a large empty cell for a period of time. After a while his executioner joined him here, locked in for a while. Finally the minister attending to the prisoner joined them. All were locked together for (I forget how long) a time. I recall the time being weeks, not hours. How creepy is that.

Black and White, Charleston, Charleston Jail, Historical, Landscape, This and That, What I Saw

Old Charleston Jail, A Finale (3)

May 17, 2019 Ted Jennings - TPJ Photography Leave a comment

An important part of documenting the old jail prior to renovations was to capture the building, from the outside, and it’s old brick and stucco facade.

The outside must be completely repaired and covered to pass any inspections. The history will be lost.

What you can’t see is the details of the handmade bricks. Some very sad details. Slave labor made much of the bricks used. Children worked the kilns and their small fingers imprints, from touching the hot brick, can still be found.

Old hand wrought bars and fittings may remain in a few places, but modern safety laws will mostly have there removed, and discarded.

I walk around here and still surprised that there actually where people who managed an escape.

When people were placed here, even for a short time, I don’t know how they survived never mind escape.

To view additional articles select the tag ‘jail’ from the web site side bar or search the ‘jail’.

Black and White, Charleston, Charleston Jail, Historical, Landscape, This and That, What I Saw

Old Charleston Jail, A Finale (2)

May 15, 2019 Ted Jennings - TPJ Photography 2 Comments

The jail was built in 1802. By design it was meant to be intimidating, to serve as a warning. And for good reason since given the history this may have been one of the most brutal places in the US. It was closed in 1939 for being ‘inhumane’. Up to 10,000 people may have perished here over the years.

Towers were removed in the late 1800’s after Charleston had a large earthquake. Other buildings, including the workhouse (a place that made the jail itself pale in comparison) have been torn down over time.

The court of the jail has it’s own history. Execution by hanging was common. Since the jail is surrounded by old houses there were spectators for the executions.

During the Civil War the court yard was used to house prisoners from the 54th Massachusetts regiment. This was a famous African American unit that was kept here because the Union Army wanted them returned as prisoners of war. The Confederate States considered them runaway slaves. The unfortunate soldiers were here until the end of the war.

The old Charleston Jail is being renovated to be used for commercial purposes. A small group was invited to visit and photograph the historical site before it is gone. This is part of that project.

Charleston, Charleston Jail, Historical, Landscape, This and That, What I Saw

Old Charleston Jail, A Finale (1)

May 12, 2019 Ted Jennings - TPJ Photography Leave a comment

The old historical Charleston Jail is about to be ‘changed’. Renovated I guess is the technical term. It has been under new ownership for a while, and time has caught up with it.

Ellen and I were honored to be invited to join a group of historians and photographers to see and document the jail as it is before things are removed and construction begins. The collective knowledge gathered for this shoot was absolutely humbling.

As is my own style I choose selective parts of the jail to photograph, and of course throw in some drama as I documented it.

My work will take several articles, I will include links to others contributions (Facebook will be popular with others I’m sure).

The jail has a dark disturbing history with African Americans. Mr. Joseph McGill was with us sharing his knowledge and I strongly recommend you visit his organization (click the link) The Slave Dwelling Project.

For several years (click here) Bulldog Tours has been providing tours and special access to the Old Charleston Jail. It was John D. LaVerne and Randall Johnson that reached out from Bulldog to invite this group of known Charleston historians.

Brandon Coffey, the founder of (click here) The South Carolina Picture Project contacted us and it was greatly appreciated. The ‘Project’ is an on going venture to have local photographers document the historical ‘nooks and crannies’ of South Carolina.

All the new, and past, articles here on this subject can be found by clicking the word Jail ‘tag’ in this web site sidebar.

More to come on the Old Charleston Jail.