The Colhoun Mansion, Charleston

Yesterday afternoon we visited the Colhoun Mansion - a very large (24,000 sq ft) brick built house on Meeting Street in Charleston.

In common with many more modest homes this house has its balconies or piazzas, on the side of the house to make the best use of the plot and catch the sea breezes.

The house was built at the end of the 19th century by the Williams family.  It was opulently built with a beautiful cherry wood staircase and many features - both glass and hand painted ceilings - created by Louis Comfort Tiffany.

The house passed to Mr Williams son in law whose name was Colhoun  and it retains that name, despite having had many owners during the twentieth century -  it became a hotel in 1914 and later was used by the US Navy during the Second World War.  In the 1970's it became unsafe and was almost taken down.  It was restored from 1976.

The present owner purchased the house in 2004 and preserved it by registering it on the National Historic Register.  The house is open to the public for guided tours and the owner lives in it.

He has filled it - almost to bursting point - with a huge collection of antiques and works of art from all over the world and of all ages.  

A remarkable museum (or enough contents for several museums) including Russian icons, oil paintings, opulent furniture and porcelain and more unusual items in ivory, tortoiseshell and a full set of Samurai uniform - but of course no photos inside.

The entrance vestibule with its Venetian chandelier, engraved glass doors, Minton tiles, ornate brass hinges and carved wooden doors gives an indication of the opulence of the original house - considered to be Charleston's finest example of a 'gilded age' home.

The garden is beautifully kept with fountains and statuary..

As the house was built after the end of the Civil War and the abolition of enslaved labour, the house had staff and the kitchens were built within the house rather than in a separate building.