Private Residence - South Adgers Wharf

South Adgers Wharf is one of the few cobblestone streets remaining in the oldest part of the peninsula. This area was originally a “low water lot” belonging to Robert Tradd. Upon his death in 1731, he bequeathed his “water lott” to Jacob Motte and his children. Motte served as the South Carolina treasurer for many years.  He built a large wharf on Tradd’s low water lot that was known as “Motte’s Wharf” or “Motte’s Bridge.” This area was just outside the eastern portion of the walled city of Charleston. The city had a wall around it from about 1704 until 1719 when it began to come down. The outline of one of the redans can be seen at the corner of South Adger’s Wharf and East Bay Street. It is an outline that was discovered during utility work in 2012 and 2013. (A redan is a term related to fortifications. It is a work in a V-shaped salient angle toward an expected attack.) On the side of the house is a private masonry courtyard that includes a lovely water feature along with a special dining area. The plant material is of various textures and mostly shades of green. The wall facing the Concord Street is a pierced brick wall, which allows for privacy but allows the breeze from the Cooper Rivers to flow freely through. Notice the large half-round masonry common wall that is shared with the other units in the area. In the brick wall at each end of the garden, one can see where there was a massive beam that ran from one end of the garden wall to the other. Plants include: Farfugium, Fatsia, boxwood, Autumn fern, foxtail fern, hydrangea, Millettia vine (evergreen wisteria), maidenhair fern vine, fatshedera, Camellia sasanqua, and ‘East Palatka’ hollies.