Wrought IRON Shadows from CHARLESTON, South Carolina

We went to Charleston , SC...one of my very favorite places in the world, if you have followed my blog before. If you are a newer follower, a warm welcome. Or a hot one as it was 95 degrees in Charleston , a city with possibly the highest humidity on the face of the planet. I was in an artsy type of mood , melancholy...contemplating -my- life type of mood for the last few days ( wait, make that a good couple of decades ), but it is more profound of late.

That in turn has caused Mrs. Profound-over-thinker to notice even more than I already notice, which is too much for my own good.

But here , I will show you the shadows of some gorgeous, heavy, chunky antique wrought iron gates and ironwork I noticed reflecting  on the ground in the early morning sunlight of Charleston.

I hope you enjoy these pictures...

 I love the heart in this gate. I saw many hearts in gates here...once I stopped and looked at them more carefully.

 See...lovely shadows.

Artwork outlines courtesy of God and His sunshine.

I will throw in this shadow on a sidewalk that I was walking down, I loved the crape myrtles draping heavy with their blossoms, creating outlines for anyone who could truly notice. That morning I walked was full of birds singing , clip-clopping of horses hooves from the carriages that give tours, and lots of going around construction crews renovating homes.

I did not have my headphones on this time, as I had to bring water it was so hot, and I had my camera and key as well.

A gal only has some many hands right ?

The evening before I got caught in a torrential downpour about a mile from the hotel, with way too much to carry and to get damaged if they got wet.
I went under someone's porch for awhile, but did not want to appear to be a vagrant...a wet vagrant...so I made my way out into the rain again.

I looked like a drowned rat when I walked back to the hotel.

So this time, I edited my carry-on items for my walk.
Not in case of rain...simply to make my walk lighter.

That afforded me the added benefit of Charleston's own daily sounds.

Nice.

 The sun started to get too high overhead, which meant time was passing and I had to head back to our hotel.

 Here is me and my love-bug  later, getting ready to go out for some dinner at a restaurant that had a live jazz band , and then off to walk around Charleston at dusk at the water park. It was still 95 degrees at 6:30 PM.

Our son's favorite thing at this hotel was racing up the elevator to beat me, who always takes the stairs here, to get to the room first.

I won 90 % of the time . Only because it was only 1 flight of steps up, and he had to wait frantically pushing elevator buttons, the joy children derive from elevator buttons !

I have more entries I will post with many more pictures of wrought iron accents , and some gardens and miscellaneous shots around Charleston.

More later,

Gina

 "Be still, and know that I am GOD. " Psalm 46:10

The BATTERY Area & Sights of CHARLESTON, South Carolina

In this short guide of historic Charleston , South Carolina ...I decided to start this one from the Battery area, instead of St. Philip's church like I always do as it is one of the most if not THE most popular tourist spot in Charleston . That is the reason wealthy homeowners built their homes here to catch the breezes from the water in this hot  ,( it was 75 degrees in late October ) , and humid area of the Deep South.

Let's look around,

Here is the view from the long walkway made of large slate blocks and concrete, looking towards the mansions that were built here. This walkway goes all around the battery area, towards White Point park, and then to the building where the Coast Guard is located. That is my youngest daughter, Sarah, to the far left of the picture. This is typically always full of tourists and joggers. Those large slate slabs ' move' when you walk on them !

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Another view of the slate slabs and walkway

Here was one of the many carriage that do tours around the historic areas of Charleston. I will tell you that if you do this in the Summer, bring some water as it is very hot , and I recall being on one of these a few times when my son was very young..and he fell asleep on me. A 100 degree day, a child asleep on your lap for an hour, on a crowded carriage ride. I was drenched when I got up to leave that ride...still remember it , and he wakes up and goes, " Let's go again ! "

No way.

Here is a shot of a true Charleston wrought iron bench in White Points Garden. I would have loved to have gotten some shots of the large gazebo that they do weddings in here, but they have dismantled it for renovations. Will get you a shot when it gets back. This park is seen right off the walkway of the Battery, and it has numerous cannons and statues about the War of 1812.
Plus lots of pigeons that my son used to call ducks ...are roaming around waiting for someone to throw them some bread.

Here was an original authentic horse-tie stand that was outside of a house.

Close up of the horse.

Marble entry steps leading to front door. This is a common sight , especially among the mansions on the Battery. I guess people with money all liked marble steps then !

Here was beautiful rose garden off the side of one of the homes. They all have large side piazza or porches to catch the sea breezes.

Many of the homes also have ivy-covered steps leading to the front doors.

  

Ivy seems to be growing on everything here, this was a view of a large cement antique urn in a garden.

Here was a beautiful circular garden at a Bed and Breakfast , in the back, that had the most beautiful antique cement statue I have seen here.

Close-up.

 

She was about my size, and if you saw her you would want her too in your garden.

More beautiful than my photos can show. 

I felt she represented the essence of a woman in her garden.

Typical view of some mansions ivy-covered steps with their dogs lounging around on the porches .
Lucky, lucky dogs.

  A shot of the Calhoun mansions, a wedding gift a very wealthy man named George Williams built for his daughter while she was on a year long honeymoon with her husband in Europe. Hard to believe anyone had that much money to be able to spoil yourself rotten for a year.
Daddy's girl I guess.

When you come to Charleston , you will see street after street of some of these large mansions amidst some that are not quite so large.This one is called the Chisholm mansion off of Tradd St. , a block off of the Battery area. It is called the Charleston Greek revival style, primarily because of the massive columns. This is one of my very favorite homes to walk past, every trip here.
 

Front wrought iron gates of Chisholm mansion. My daughter was with me , she says, " Hey the gates open..go in and take a picture. "
Did not, very tempted and definitely considered it for too long.
Darned open gate-tempter.

Last view in this guide, this was the front of the Dock Street Theatre , the oldest theater in the United States. It is on Church St., a block down from St. Philip's church. It is located at 135 Church St. and was built in the early 1700's. They have been renovating this going on two years now. I have many guides about the historic neighborhoods of Charleston in my September archives, check them out if you have time.
I hope your day is a really, really good one, Blessings,
Gina
" It is good to praise the LORD and make music to your name, O Most High , to proclaim your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night. " psalm 92:1-2

Original Old Wood Picket FENCES & GATES of CHARLESTON, South Carolina

Here is a lovely old wood picket gate , with a curved accent , leading into a downtown Charleston, SC home near the Battery.

 

I really liked the style of this old fencing , the graduated heights and the heavier large supports of the posts.

 

I saw these a few times also, large impressive wooden gates leading into the driveways. Almost all the driveway gates were painted black.

  

This was on Tradd St., an unusual large double dragon gate ( this of course is only one half, I would love to have closed the gates to get a great picture of them together...but my luck...I would have accidentally locked them or something...so left them open.) Again, something I considered for longer than I should have.

Here was a backyard gate and fencing, looking a little worse for wear but interesting design.

 

Most of the fencing had ivy growing through it...I remember this shot because their were some men doing yardwork across the street...and one started singing a lovely Mexican song...I have no idea if it was a lullaby, a love song or what...but I did not want to leave that spot as it was so romantic.

This was a double gate leading into a very gorgeous home near the Battery. Great design.

 

Here is an example of the combination picket fence separated with a brick column and the heavy wrought iron in the front. Charleston -style through and through.

Here was one of only about two fences I saw painted a different color than white or black, looks like a rebel homeowner protesting against convention...this was a putty/yellow color.

 

Very charming , very inviting look.

 

Huge driveway entry gates painted white with wrought iron in the openings.

I hope you can get some ideas for fencing in your yard or garden with these photos. I will be showing some more of Charleston wrought iron, statues, fountains, houses and doorways soon.

later,

 Gina

" Enter by the narrow gate ; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it . " Matthew 7: 13-14 

 

Antique Wrought Iron Gates of Charleston, South Carolina

Charleston, South Carolina has such gorgeous antique wrought ironwork...the entire city is chock full of antique wrought iron...so breathtaking...it accents this historic city perfectly. When I go walking around the city with my camera, I see so many wrought iron gates, accent pieces over grates and openings in old homes.  I went there on Tuesday of this week, and walked for hours taking pictures of ironwork, gates, doors, fences, homes, and antique hardware. It is kind of funny when the Charlestonians see me take pictures, as most tourists take the typical pics...but I try to find the unusual elements in the architecture as well...so I get some funny looks when I take doorknocker and mailbox , etc. photos. Taking these pictures has led me to trip many times ..and you can only understand that if you have been to Charleston and NO street or sidewalk is remotely level. I have also run backwards into trees, cars ( parked), a mailman ,( he was very nice about it ), and other tourists...taking shots of all of these interesting sights. Let's show you some wrought iron now...

 

A decorative window grate here.

 

Gosh , I loved this strip of fencing. If I could have ripped it out and secretly carried it home to encircle my garden ...just a thought....these are all original , HEAVY,cast iron fencing.

 

This is a close-up of a flower basket with roses that was on the top of both sides of a large swinging gate.

Here again is a charming view of a iron gate with overgrown ivy above. In Charleston, many owners always have a ' see-thru' to share their gardens with us. Yeah !

 

Here again is a typical large, double wrought iron gate...leading into a yard.

This home had wrought iron all over it..had a sort of New Orleans look to it...but Charleston was around about 35 years before New Orleans.

 

Here is a close-up of this beautiful handiwork. Wish I could see the inside.

 

Beautiful swirly entarnce gate.

 

A really cool, lower wrought iron grate at the bottom of a home.

Close-up of heavy iron gate...looks like a Texas Lone Star symbol.

 

Here is the entire double gate, leading into a residence.

Here is a double wrought iron gate , covering a churches' steps.

Another wrought iron gate with a cool arrow motif.

 

Here is a neat intricate gate that was near to the Battery...I believe it was on S. Battery street.

 

Again, a heavy Victorian iron gate and fencing surrounding a home.

More sights later,

Gina

" Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life, no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.   John 14:6