William Blacklock House

The William Blacklock House is a historic house at 18 Bull Street in Charleston, South Carolina. A National Historic Landmark, this brick house, built in 1800 for a wealthy merchant, is one of the nation's finest examples of Adamesque architecture. It is now owned by the College of Charleston, housing its Office of the foundation.

William Blacklock House
William Blacklock House
William Blacklock House is located in South Carolina
William Blacklock House
William Blacklock House is located in the United States
William Blacklock House
Location18 Bull St.,
Charleston, South Carolina
Coordinates32°47′0″N 79°56′22″W / 32.78333°N 79.93944°W / 32.78333; -79.93944
Built1800
Architectural styleFederal
Part ofCharleston Historic District (ID66000964)
NRHP reference No.73001681
Significant dates
Added to NRHPNovember 7, 1973[1]
Designated NHLNovember 7, 1973[2]
Designated NHLDCPOctober 9, 1960

Description and history

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The Blacklock House is set on the southern edge of the College of Charleston campus in central Charleston, on the north side of Bull Street. The house is a two-story brick house, set on a high brick basement. Its roof is hipped, with a gable above the center entrance. The entrance is reached by a double flight of stairs with iron railings, and is flanked by sidelight windows, with a fanlight window above. The windows in the bays on either side of the entrance have round-arch tops, while the remaining windows have flat lintels with keystones. The window above the door is a larger window with sidelights, and the gable above has a large fanlight lunette in it. The property includes two outbuildings, each of which have Gothic Revival features.[3]

The house was built by William Blacklock who, on September 24, 1794, purchased two lots in the newly laid out Harleston Village. Although likely built in 1800, Blacklock was first listed as living in the house in 1802 according to a city directory (based on the prior year's information).[4] The house's design has similarities to the work of Gabriel Manigault, but no attribution has ever been confirmed. Blacklock was a member of the committee responsible for the construction of a bank (now City Hall) which was designed by Manigault in the same year. Other design elements of 18 Bull St. are similar to those uses in other Manigault designs.[citation needed]

The house underwent a major restoration in 1937, and was acquired by the College of Charleston in 1974. It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1973.[2]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. January 23, 2007.
  2. ^ a b "William Blacklock House". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Retrieved March 17, 2008.
  3. ^ Tray Stephenson and Bernard Kearse (April 25, 1973). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination" (pdf). National Park Service. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help) and Accompanying one photo, exterior, from 1973 (32 KB)
  4. ^ Stockton, Robert (May 19, 1975). "Blacklock House 'One of the Greatest'". Charleston News & Courier. pp. B1. Retrieved October 12, 2013.
  • Robert P. Stockton, Information for Guides of Historic Charleston, South Carolina 154 (1985).
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