Richmond Plantation
Cooper River Historic District - Berkeley County, South Carolina
$16,500,000
154.1 +/- Acre Historic Waterfront Plantation With Fully Restored English Country Manor. Located On The East Branch Of The Cooper River And Nestled Within 10,000 Acres Of Protected Bonneau Ferry Wildlife Management Area. Circa 1733. A++ Location!
Nestled along the eastern branch of the Cooper River, Richmond Plantation offers a unique opportunity to own a magnificent plantation in the highly desired Cooper River Historic District. Encompassing over 154 +/- waterfront acres, coupled with Richmond’s close proximity to Charleston, this grand estate is well situated to create the perfect town and country pairing. Furthermore, Richmond is located within a 10,000 acre protected wildlife management area which offers unparalleled privacy just outside of Charleston, South Carolina. Richmond Plantation’s manor house and buildings are unmatched in there beauty and are architectural masterpieces, and are set within a breathtaking and magical landscape and manicured grounds.
You're welcomed into the property down a grand 3 mile driveway into the heart of the Plantation. The entrance and grounds are stunning with centuries old live oaks draped with Spanish moss that canopy the Plantations footprint. The centerpiece is a grand English country manor home that has been meticulously restored over a 5 year period by the current owners. Originally built in 1927 by George A. Ellis, co-founder of E.F. Hutton & Co., the manor home is constructed with Shavian style architecture. The asymmetrical one and a half story home has a central mass and two single story wings that features 5 bedrooms, 5 full bathrooms and 3 half bathrooms, chefs kitchen, butler pantry, grand dining hall, expansive sitting room, library, and more. Renowned NYC architectural firm Clinton and Russell, known for their work for the Astor family, designed the estate.
Ellis had the home constructed to serve as his hunting lodge on the expansive footprint of what is now Bonneau Ferry, echoing similar accounts from the book "Northern Money Southern Land," which describes the wave of influence from prominent Northeastern businessmen post Civil War that purchased greatly distressed Plantation properties for hunting and recreation. The home is enveloped with English artisan details from the various perched gargoyles, casts of King Charles I, high pitched slate roofing, hand crafted woodwork throughout, and a 12th century fireplace. It has only stood the test of time because of the current owners dedication to preservation of the South's history and a love of historic restoration and fine architecture. Carrying with the manor house's unique architecture, three additional Shavian-style buildings are on site: a one bedroom carriage house directly behind the manor, a fabulous barn, and a dog kennel that has been converted into a second guest home. A newer constructed managers home is also located on site and Richmond has excellent management in place. There is even a 60'x30' boat house nestled at the end of an old rice channel. The boat house and parts of the grounds were recently featured on the hit Netflix series Outer Banks.
The original 1800s Plantation home burned sometime in the early 1900s and was thought to have been located near the circular reflection pond adjacent to the barn. A small Revolutionary cemetery is located near the guest homes that were constructed for the original rice planter John Harleston, and dates the property to the early 1700s. The walled camellia garden dates to this same time period of Harleston's ownership, and to this day camellias from the Plantation are cut and brought to Charleston for the current owner.
The Plantation provides unparalleled privacy and access to nature. Wildlife flourishes at Richmond and there are good deer and turkey populations for hunting. The 3.5 +/- acre stocked fishing pond is ideal for fishing and is a short walk from the manor home. A large 6 +/- acre dove field complete with wire is a highlight for the wing shooter. Adjacent to the dove field is a large horse barn that is currently used for storage and a pavilion for entertaining. There are walking and riding trails throughout the Plantation, and combined with the existing horse barn, Richmond suits well for equestrian enthusiasts. With over a half mile of river frontage on the East Branch, boat rides to Charleston and surrounding landmarks become a unique recreational opportunity. By boat you can be downtown in a little over an hour. By vehicle, the Plantation is 25 +/- miles from Mount Pleasant and 35 +/- miles to downtown Charleston.
Richmond's prestigious location is surrounded by renowned Plantations such as Longwood, Quinby, Halidon Hill, Middleburg, Silk Hope, Kensington, Hyde Park and others, making it an unparalleled opportunity to own a piece of Lowcountry and early American history.


Agent Comments
Richmond is a fairytale property. There is nothing else quite like this in South Carolina. The manor house might just be the grandest home in all of South Carolina if not the Southeast. In the old days they measured a man's wealth by the length of his driveway, and Richmond's drive is 3 miles long...
Property Highlights
- 154.1 +/- acre historic English country manor on the East Branch of the Cooper River.
- Built by George A Ellis in 1927 who was the co-founder of E.F. Hutton & Co.
- A++ Location just 25 +/- miles to Mount Pleasant and 35 +/- miles to downtown Charleston
- 7,798 +/- square foot English Manor home with 5 bedrooms, 5 full bathrooms and 3 half bathrooms
- Four additional outbuildings were also constructed in the Shavian Manorial style and constructed at the same time as the manor house
- 5+ year meticulous restoration
- Grand live oak entrance and exceptional grounds
- Walled camellia garden
- 2880 + feet of river frontage with deep water dock
- 3 +/- mile long driveway
- Original Hope's windows completely restored
- Nestled within 10,000 acres of protected landscape within the Bonneau Ferry Wildlife Management Area
- 2.7 +/- acre stocked bass pond
- Boat House
- 6 +/- acre dove field
- 140'x45' horse stable
- Deep water dock on the East Branch of the Cooper River
- Neighborhood with a high density of protected properties
- Listed on the National Register of Historic Places
- Protected by a conservation easement with Lowcountry Open Land Trust
- Nearby Plantations include Longwood, Quinby, Halidon Hill, Cedar Hill, Middleburg, Silk Hope and others
Maps & Location
- 25 +/- miles to Mount Pleasant
- 35.8 +/- miles to Sullivan's Island
- 36.9 +/- miles to the Charleston International Airport
- 35 +/- miles to Downtown Charleston
Downloads
- Richmond Plantation Aerial
- Richmond Conservation Easement
- Richmond Plantation Bonneau Ferry Map
- Richmond Plantation Soils
- Richmond Plantation Improvements Map
- Richmond Plantation Topo
- Richmond Plantation Location
- Keystone Neighborhood Map
- Richmond Manor House Plans
- Richmond Master Landscape Plans
- Richmond Outbuildings Plans
- Richmond National Registry Documents
Agent Comments