From The Archives

Robinson Plantation

Driving North through Fairfield County on SC-215, brief glimpses of beautiful Lake Monticello can be seen to the West of the highway. About half way up the lake, a dramatic expanse of gently rolling meadows and green pastures frame a live oak and pecan-lined driveway leading to a truly magnificent antebellum plantation home that, from the high ground upon which it is situated, looks out over nearly a mile of incredible shoreline.

The home was built circa 1845 by Dr. James Bolton Davis and was owned for over a hundred years by the Davis family. Dr. Davis, upon retiring from medical practice after a few years, devoted his life and the property to agricultural interests including the breeding of thoroughbred horses and livestock (In 1849 Dr. Davis had the first recorded introduction of Brahman Cattle into the United States.). Acquired and restored by the Robinson family in 1949, this property was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971 and was owned by the Robinson family until a year ago.

Situated on 18.22 acres that remain of the heart of the hundreds of acres that comprised the original cotton plantation, this 8,556 square foot masterpiece is a classic center-entrance four over four colonial in the Greek revival style. The stately two-story, white frame home has a hipped roof pierced by two mammoth chimneys, is fronted by a gabled portico and a second floor balcony, while both in turn are supported by four massive Doric columns with a fanlight window in the pediment. Semi-elliptical fanlights and sidelights surround the front doors on both floors.

The first floor consists of a wide central hall, two parlors, a bedroom and the formal dining room plus an attached kitchen and an attached pantry/utility room. The second floor is made up of a wide central hall, four bedrooms and a full bath. Ceiling heights are eleven or more feet in all eight main rooms, each of which is about twenty-two feet square. Many of the original architectural features, such as mantles over the seven fireplaces, staircase with landing and handmade banisters and rails, striking paneled doors, wide-board heart-pine floors and original moldings and baseboards still exist.

The property is offered with 18.22 acres with additional acreage available on both sides. This estate presents a once in a lifetime opportunity to own a wonderful and authentic example of the grandeur of the antebellum plantation days of South Carolina.