This house along the Pee Dee River, south of Chapel Creek, sits on land that was once part of Guendalos Plantation. Around the time of the Civil War, the property was owned by the Allston family, who also owned Brookgreen Plantation before Archer and Anna Huntington purchased it in 1930.
In 1857, Guendalos had its most noted owner. It was purchased that year by then-governor Robert Francis Withers Allston for $75,000. (Allston paid $21,000 in cash and took out a mortgage for the remaining $53,500. This price did not include slaves.)
The governor’s primary goal in securing the land was to establish his son as a planter. After the governor’s death in 1864, the plantation was inherited by Ben Allston, a colonel in the Confederacy. In his absence the plantation was managed by an overseer named Joeseph M. Thompson, who policed approximately 120 slaves. Guendalos produced rice as its cash crop.
Though the house itself is not original, Guendalos does feature the remains of former ricefields. Because of this, it is listed on the National Register as part of the Pee Dee River Planters Historic District:
The Pee Dee River Planters Historic District includes extant buildings, structures, and ricefields associated with twelve rice plantations located along the Pee Dee River (Hasty Point, Breakwater, Belle Rive, Exchange, Rosebank, Chicora Wood, Guendalos, Enfield, Birdfield, Arundel, Springfield, Dirleton) and five rice plantations located along the Waccamaw River (Turkey Hill, Oatland, Willbrook, Litchfield, and Waverly). These plantations were part of a large rice culture in the county which flourished from ca.1750 to ca.1910. The rice culture produced most of the rice grown in South Carolina during that period when the colony, and later, the state, was the leader in rice production in America. This district includes four plantation houses (at Exchange, Rosebank, Chicora Wood, and Dirleton); two rice barns (at Hasty Point and Exchange); collections of plantation outbuildings (at Chicora Wood and Arundel); a rice mill and chimney (at Chicora Wood); and historic ricefields with canals, dikes, and trunks. The plantation houses are all frame houses with a central hall plan.
Ben Alston went off to fight in the Civil War. He put his overseer in charge while he was away. Alston was a Colonel in the Confederacy.
If Ben Alston inherited in 1864 how could his overseer be in charge of 120 slaves?
Do you rent this venue for weddings? My daughter is getting married on April 9, 2016 and we are looking for local plantation.
Hi, Gina! We believe that this is a private residence, but Sunnyside Plantation in Murrells Inlet, not too far from Georgetown, is available for weddings. Here is the phone number: 843.796.0007. Also, here is a link to its history: http://www.sciway.net/sc-photos/georgetown-county/sunnyside.html Best of luck!
Look at Litchfield Plantation on Kings River Road in Pawleys Island also. Exquisite!!
Good history. I wish this history was shared in early schools and the records of who worked or were enslaved on this plantation.
Do the owners rent out to wedding receptions? This is absolutuely beautiful.
It is beautiful! However, it is a private residence.
Beautiful!
Is this plantation open for tours?
Hi Libby! We believe that it is privately owned, but you may want to call the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce to ask and be sure – you can reach them at (843) 546-8436. Hope this helps!
Is this plantation home open for wedding receptions? It is a beautiful location and home.
Hi Kristina! The home is privately owned, so we are not sure whether they do wedding receptions. A good place to check would be with the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce – they will surely point you in the right direction. Good luck!