69 Church Street, Charleston, SC, 29401

Address

69 Church Street, Charleston, SC

Listing Type

Active

Price

$ 12,500,000

Property Attributes

MLS#26026443
TypeSingle Family
Listing Status Active
CountyCharleston
CityCharleston
Area51 - Peninsula Charleston Inside of Crosstown
NeighborhoodSouth of Broad
Zip29401
Style
Year Built1745
Price$ 12,500,000
Bedrooms7
Full Bathrooms8
Half Bathrooms1
Sqr Footage8524
Lot Size0.29 Acres

Data Source:

Charleston Trident MLS (CTARMLS)

Property Description

69 Church Street represents one of Charleston's most significant residential offerings, a grand pre-Revolutionary estate of exceptional architectural pedigree, remarkable scale, and extraordinary privacy in the heart of the historic district. Built circa 1745 and set on an expansive .29-acre lot on picturesque Church Street, this Category 1 Georgian double house is among the largest and most important surviving residences of its era in the city.From the moment one enters, the scale and quality of the architecture are striking. The main residence follows the classic Charleston double-house plan, with four principal rooms on each floor arranged around an elegant central stair hall rising four stories.Soaring ceilings of more than 11 feet extend through three floors, an exceptional feature for a house of this period, and beautifully proportioned nine-over-nine double-sash windows fill the interiors with natural light. The home is a remarkable expression of both the Georgian and Federal periods, with an extraordinary collection of original and period details. Fifteen fireplaces, King of Prussia marble surrounds, Delft tiles, exquisite mantels, wainscoting, original interior wood shutters, bespoke moldings and finely executed woodwork appear throughout. Among the most memorable rooms are the magnificent second-floor ballroom, the gracious drawing room, and the richly paneled cypress library. Remarkably, the third floor retains the same generous ceiling heights and window proportions found on the principal floors below, with the primary suite spanning the entire east side of the third floor. Despite its historic pedigree, the residence functions beautifully for modern living. Each bedroom has an en suite bath--an unusual luxury in a historic Charleston house. The original kitchen building is connected to the main residence by a hyphen and butler's pantry. The kitchen house contains a period-style kitchen and comfortable den overlooking the gardens through distinctive lancet-arched windows. Two additional bedrooms with two full baths in the kitchen house provide wonderfully private accommodations for family, guests, or live-in staff. Equally extraordinary are the grounds. Behind high brick walls, five exquisitely landscaped garden rooms unfold across the unusually deep property. Mature heirloom camellias, towering podocarpus, citrus and pomegranate trees create a lush, established landscape with a sense of discovery at every turn. A charming secret garden gives way to a large oval swimming pool, one of the earliest private pools downtown, with historic brick hardscape and secluded within the gardens, framed by Gothic Revival-inspired privies. A covered trellis anchors the far end of the pool, perfect for dining al fresco or enjoying some shade while poolside. The rear garden with fruit trees opens onto Ford's Court and provides additional off-street parking. For all its grandeur, 69 Church Street possesses an unexpected intimacy. Once inside its walls, the property feels remarkably quiet and private. The house flows effortlessly for large-scale entertaining, yet its library, den, garden rooms and hidden corners provide equally compelling spaces for retreat. Its history is inseparable from that of Charleston and South Carolina. Likely built by Richard Capers in 1745, the house was later occupied by Colonel Jacob Motte, who served as treasurer of the colony for 27 years. Meetings of the Commons House of Assembly were held here, likely in the second-floor drawing room, before construction of the historic State House at the corner of Broad and Meeting in 1791. In 1778, the residence was occupied by Colonel James Parsons, a member of the Continental Congress who had been offered the vice presidency of South Carolina prior to the formation of the United States. After suffering extensive damage during the Civil War, the property was purchased in 1869 by Eliza Middleton Huger Smith, who restored the house. Her granddaughter, Alice Ravenel Huger Smith, grew up in the home and became one of the most celebrated artists of the Charleston Renaissance and an important chronicler of the city's architecture. Many of her watercolors and sketches depict views from the windows of 69 Church Street, and her seminal The Dwelling Houses of Charleston was published in 1917. The current owners purchased 69 Church Street in 1998 and have continued that tradition of wonderful stewardship, undertaking extensive renovations while meticulously preserving and maintaining the property's architectural integrity. Few Charleston residences combine this degree of architectural importance, provenance, scale, privacy, gardens and livability. Set on one of the highest elevations within the old walled city and occupying an extraordinary estate-sized parcel, 69 Church Street is more than a historic residence, it is a tangible part of Charleston's story. Properties of this caliber and significance are held for generations. The opportunity to become the next steward of one is exceedingly rare.

Elementary School	Middle School	High School
Memminger Elementary School	Simmons Pinckney Middle School	Burke High School

Price History
9/22/2026	Listed $12,500,000

General Features

County	Charleston
Property Type	Residential
Subdivision Name	South of Broad
Status	Active
Directions	On Church Street, Between Tradd And Water Streets.
High School	Burke
City	Charleston
MLS Area	51 - Peninsula Charleston Inside of Crosstown
Lot Size Units	Acres
Lot Size Square Feet	12632.4
Elementary School	Memminger
Middle/Junior High School	Simmons Pinckney
Building Area Units	Square Feet
Standard Status	Active
Utilities	Charleston Water Service,Dominion Energy
Sewer	Public Sewer
Heating	Forced Air,Central
Cooling	Central Air
Roof	Copper,Slate,See Remarks
Construction Materials	Brick,Stucco
Year Built	1745
New Construction	false
Garage Y/N	false
Other Structures	No
Patio/Porch Features	Patio
Stories Count	4
Levels	Multi-Story,Other (Use Remarks)
Property Subtype	Single Family Detached
Full Baths	8
Carport Y/N	false
Property Attached Y/N	false
Primary Bedroom Level	Upper
Pool Features	In Ground
Security Features	Security System

Interior Features

Interior Amenities	High Ceilings,Kitchen Island,Ceiling - Smooth,Wet Bar,Eat-in Kitchen,Family,Formal Living,Entrance Foyer,Great,Office,Other,Separate Dining
Air Conditioning Y/N	true
Heating Y/N	true
Laundry Features	Laundry Room
Total Bedrooms	7
Fireplace Y/N	true
Half Baths	1
Room Type	Eat-In-Kitchen,Family,Formal Living,Foyer,Great,Laundry,Office,Other (Use Remarks),Separate Dining
Primary Bedroom Features	Sitting Room,Walk-In Closet(s)
Flooring	Ceramic Tile,Wood
Fireplace Features	Bedroom,Den,Dining Room,Family Room,Great Room,Kitchen,Living Room,Other,Three +
Window Features	Window Treatments,Skylight(s)

Exterior Features

Lot Size Area	0.29
Lot Size Acres	0.29
Lot Features	High
Parking Features	Off Street,Other
Water Source	Public
Building Area Total	8524
Exterior Amenities	Rain Gutters,Lawn Irrigation,Lighting,Balcony
Fencing	Brick,Wrought Iron,Privacy