Sword Gate House

Sword Gate House is a two-story brick structure with tall interior spaces, three dormers topped with pediments, and paneled window shutters framed by iron gates decorated with crossed spears and broadswords. High brick walls enclose the property and protect expansive gardens that occupy much of the grounds.

The property was built in 1803 by French Huguenot settlers James LaRoche and J. Lardent as a residential home. The distinctive name came from the ornamental iron gates added by British consul George Hopley in 1849.

The house served shifting roles over time as an inn, a school for girls led by Madame Talvande, and a private residence. These varied uses show how the building became woven into different layers of the community.

The property sits centrally in Charleston near other historic landmarks and is easy to locate on foot. The high walls surrounding the gardens allow visitors to appreciate the exterior architecture from the street while respecting the privacy of the site.

The distinctive entrance gates were created by ironworker Christopher Werner, who accidentally cast two identical sets. The second set found a permanent home elsewhere in the city and remains visible today.