Please note that Old Stone House is located on private property and has been the victim of repeated vandalism. Like all private homes, this one is subject to South Carolina’s “No Trespassing” laws, and it is illegal to enter the home without permission. The current owners of Old Stone House no longer wish to be contacted with requests. However, the interior images on this page were taken with the express consent of the owner.
Called Old Stone House in homage to its early owners, the Stone family, this historic manse sits along an otherwise isolated country road in Winnsboro. The land surrounding it once belonged to Samuel Gladney, who received his acreage through a royal land grant in 1768. A corner of the house is etched with the date 1784, likely the year the house was built.
The house served as a residence for many years until nearby Lebanon Presbyterian Church acquired the home for use as its parsonage in 1870. At the time, the church – formerly called Jackson Creek Presbyterian – was located near this site, and ruins from the original church can be seen on neighboring Airport Road. The church moved to its current location in 1893. Now vacant, Old Stone House has fallen into disrepair.
The Old Stone House is listed in the National Register:
The Old Stone House is significant as a rare example of eighteenth-century stone construction. Samuel Gladney (ca. 1740-1800) received a royal land grant in 1768 on which he constructed the Old Stone House. A corner of the house bears the date 1784. The house passed through several owners before it was purchased in 1870 by the Lebanon Presbyterian Church for use as a parsonage. The house is a two-story, side-gable roofed, stone building, with a double-pile floor plan and end chimneys of stone. The front porch foundation and stone piers remain, although porch roof and supports have been removed. The façade has a central door with a massive stone lintel flanked by single four-over-four windows with stone lintels. The second story has three four-over-four, shuttered windows. The rear elevation has an off-center entrance flanked by two single windows. The second story has two four-over-four windows and a third that has been filled with stone. The roof is covered with metal.
More Pictures of the Old Stone House
Reflections on the Old Stone House
Contributor Pete Holland, who did the above painting, shares: “This is the Old 1784 Stone House in Winnsboro, SC. I did a painting of the house in preparation for the Fairfield County Ag + Art Tour in June of 2015. I’m a retired architect who loves to paint portraits of old structures and this house was begging to be painted. It’s in serious need of restoration and I sincerely hope someone heeds the call.”
My great grandmother, Annie Amanda Stone Stevenson, grew up in this home. Her brother raised his family there, and one of the daughters is in good health and lives in Chapin. She is my grandmother’s youngest first cousin, Betty Ann Stone Dilworth.
Meg, I noticed the name Stone. Is this why the home is called Old Stone House? I always thought it was because of the granite blocks! How interesting!
My husband’s 6x great grandfather Samuel Gladney built this house. Do you know who currently owns the house and land so I can try to get in touch with them?
This is PRIVATE PROPERTY. Please respect the Do Not TRESPASS signs. The greatest threat to restoration is those who are generally curious and disregard any courtesy given to a normal home. We have witnessed citizens literally kicking a door in to get a photo op and/or breaking a window to see a bit more of the inside. We appreciate the publi’s interest in this beautiful, historic property. However, we reserve the right to protect it. Let me be very clear. If you trespass on this property, you will be prosecuted. Thank you.
Is it possible to take photos of the house from the field? I don’t want to trespass, but it’s unclear if you can be on the land without trespassing, or if it’s just the home. I’m researching stone quarried from the area for a novel I’m writing, plus I’m an artist. I’m more interested with the outside. Are there other photos, closer up of the stones? Is the house visible from public-access roads? Please contact me at trowen62@gmail.com.
I passed this house one day, it is so beautiful from my viewpoint and I hope that it can be brought back to its glory. The pictures on the site very nice, now I know some more about this home.
It is a wonderful house, too bad no one is caring for it. I love its beauty and the stone.
I realize this house is on the National Register, but would it be available for private purchase, given it be maintained in a somewhat historic state?
Hello Deanna, you would have to reach out to the owner directly because we are unsure if they are interested in that or not. It is a great idea though! If you check out local tax records for the area (available online) it would give the owner information.
The property is or was owned by at one time the Pope family. I do see Edie Pope has replied above. I was a friend of the Rev. Carroll Pope. The property is by the road. You can see it, but as Edie Pope mentioned above, it is posted and it would be well advised not to trespass as the Pope family lives in that area.
My grandmother lived there and I think she was born there. Her name was Alva Gladney.
Wow, Jim! That is really interesting. Do you know any stories about the old place? If so, we’d love to hear them!
Mr. Holland, how might I purchase this painting from you, assuming it is still available?