Milford Plantation, Stables, Wedgefield-Rimini Road, Pinewood

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS SC,43-PINWO.V,1E-. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

plantations of South Carolina, of greater than usual architectural distinction. PART I. HISTORICAL INFORMATION A. Physical History: 1. Original and subsequent owners (chain of title): John Lawrence Manning. 2. Date of erection: c. PART II. ARCHITECTURAL INFORMATION This frame, clapboarded, one-story-and-loft stable building is 52 feet by 106 feet. Three corners are taken up by porticos, leaving the enclosed portion of the building nearly cruciform in plan. It is in good condition, and is of considerable architectural interest as an example of its type and period, for design, construction and detail. Foundations are stuccoed brick piers square, their height vary- ing from 8" at the south end to at the north end, due to sloping ground.

Framing is of hewn timbers, morticed and pegged with trenails; the clear yellow pine is probably from first-growth trees. Wall posts alternate between 9" by and by in section. bJ posts at the inner end of the stalls help support alternate joists of the loft floor, being rebated into the lower side of these joists, 8~J"-wide clapboards are nailed directly to the wall posts; their width includes a 3A!r~'wide horizontal groove at one edge, which gives the ef- fect of rusticated masonry jointing. MILFORD PLANTATION STABLES HABS Wo. (Page 2) At each corner except the southeast is a portico of fluted Greek Doric columns. Those at the west side are three bays long, parallel to the length of the building; the northeast portico is of the same length but contains only one column at the corner.

At each end of the porticos, at the wall, is a paneled anta of correct Greek detail. A three-part entablature without triglyphs or mutules extends around the whole building and is pedimented at the north and south ends. At the north and south ends are wide central doorways, each trimmed with antae. The opening at the north is approached by a wide plank ramp, and the south doorway by a short concrete ramp. The openings are provided with sliding doors. At each side of the doorways is a window; there are two in the central portion of each side wall. These windows, some of which are partially boarded up on the inside, have architrave trim on the exterior, and double-hung sash, six lights over six lights. Similar but smaller windows occur under the porticos, lighting the stalls.

In each pedi- ment there is a wide segmental window, triply divided by two mullions. The central sash slides horizontally. The roof is gabled; it is framed with 6" by 9" hewn principal rafters six feet on centers. A purlin morticed into the principal rafters . carries 3" by 4" secondary rafters one midway between principals. There is a 6" by 8" collar joining each pair of principal rafters. The roof is sheathed with wide boards. INTERIOR In plan, a wide central aisle extends the entire length of the build- ing. On the transverse axis, in a kind of "transept," are a carriage room on the east and a harness room on the west. At the north end there are stalls on the east side and enclosed storerooms on the west side of. the central aisle.

At the south end there are stalls on the west, side and a large mule stable on the east; this occupies the corner where there is no portico, as well as part of the main enclosure. The mule stable has its own doorway on the south end. The loft is mainly open in plan, but has some enclosed rooms on the . west side. Near the north end, on the west side, is a steep stair consisting of two flights and a landing, between the main floor and the loft* It is. approximately fifteen feet from floor to floor, and from the loft floor to the under side of the ridge. The main and loft floors are of yellow pine planks.

The loft floor is framed with joists on centers, alternating 3" by 12" and 5" by Partitions on both floors are covered with wide boards, the1 maximum width being Doors are board and batten, each hung on; two . pintles and wrought-iron strap hinges. MTLFORD PLANTATION STABLES HABS No. SC-36O (Page 3) SITE This building is some hundreds of feet south of the plantation house, on slightly sloping ground. There is a yard enclosed by a wooden fence at the south end of.the stables. GENERAL It is said that originally fifty horses were accommodated in this stable building. It is presently used as a barn. Prepared by John G. Poppeliers Architectural Historian National Park Service Harley J. McKee Professor of Architecture Syracuse University April 28,