Brick House Ruins

Brick House Ruins is a plantation house site dating to the 18th century on Edisto Island, featuring red brick walls and window openings. The structure stands near salt marshes and still displays architectural details including window frames and original brickwork from that period.

The plantation house was built in 1725 and operated as a center for rice and indigo production for over a century. It was abandoned during the American Civil War and gradually fell into ruin.

The building reflects how colonists adapted European architectural styles to work with the wet marshland environment and support plantation operations. Walking around the site, you can see how the design responds to its coastal setting.

The site is open to visitors, though access may be limited and it is wise to check conditions ahead of time. Wear sturdy shoes since the ground is rough and uneven, and the location has minimal facilities.

Inside the walls, traces of an early cooling system remain, showing how builders innovated to handle the heat and humidity of the southern climate. These temperature control methods were designed specifically for the island's conditions.