Robert Brewton House facts for kids
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Robert Brewton House
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U.S. National Historic Landmark District
Contributing Property |
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1983 photograph, Historic American Buildings Survey.
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 Location in South Carolina
Location in the United States
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| Location | 71 Church Street, Charleston, South Carolina |
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| Built | 1721 |
| Part of | Charleston Historic District (ID66000964) |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000700 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
| Designated NHL | October 9, 1960 |
| Designated NHLDCP | October 9, 1960 |
The Robert Brewton House is a very old and important house located at 71 Church Street in Charleston, South Carolina. It was built around 1721, making it one of the oldest homes in the city. This house is a great example of a "single house". A single house is a special type of home that is only one room wide. It has its narrow side facing the street. This design helped catch cool breezes, which was very important before air conditioning! Because of its history and unique style, the house was named a National Historic Landmark in 1960.
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About the Robert Brewton House
This historic house sits on a narrow piece of land on the west side of Church Street. This area is part of the Old Charleston neighborhood. The house was built sometime between 1701 and 1715.
Who Lived Here?
In the 1730s or 1740s, a man named Miles Brewton bought the house. He had moved to Charleston from Barbados in 1684. Miles was a goldsmith and also served as a military officer. He later gave this house to his son, Robert Brewton. Robert was also a goldsmith and was married to his second wife, Mary Griffith.
In 1745, Robert Brewton took over his father's job as the "Powder Receiver" for the city. This meant he was in charge of gunpowder supplies. That same year, Robert sold the house to his sister, Rebecca Brewton, and her husband, Jordan Roche.
What Does the House Look Like?
The Robert Brewton House is made of brick and has a hip roof. It is three stories tall. The front of the house, which faces the street, has three window sections. On the south side, there is a narrow driveway, and this side of the house has five window sections and the main entrance.
The house has cool decorative features like stuccoed corner "quoins." These are block-like designs on the corners. It also has fancy stucco designs called "keystones" above the windows. At one point, the house had a porch across its main front, but this was added later and removed at some unknown time.
Robert's Son: Miles Brewton
Robert's son, also named Miles Brewton (1731-1775), became very successful. He studied in England in the 1750s. When he returned to Charleston, he became a merchant. He later built his own famous home, the Miles Brewton House, on King Street. This larger house was finished around 1769. It is known as one of the best examples of Georgian-style buildings in the country. It was also named a National Historic Landmark in 1979.
