Of Restoration And Renovation: The Gaillard-Bennett Home, ca.1800, Charleston, SC, Estate of the Day

by Susan Kime (RSS feed)
Aug 26th 2010 at 1:01PM

One of the most historic homes in Charleston, South Carolina is the Gaillard-Bennett House on 60 Montagu Street. It was built in 1800 by Theodore Gaillard, a successful trades person. It is in the heart of downtown Charleston's historic district, and is the end product of a massive four year, multi-million dollar restoration. It is for sale for $13M, the second high estate real estate listing ever recorded for Charleston Peninsula.

It is a 10,000 square foot home, with five bedrooms, 5 baths and 2 half- baths. It also has a 3000 square foot kitchen house, a 2000 square foot carriage house, as well as a pool house, pool, tack house, and and multiple garages. Set on one and one quarter acres, surrounded by a stuccoed privacy wall, it is one of Charleston's most elaborately embellished Federal mansions. The main house is a two and one half stories, with a front porch and two side decorative porches, each with a pagoda roof. The pool and gazebo overlook the home's garden: one of the largest in the city. The main house has approximately 10,000 square feet. The Historic Charleston Foundation holds the Preservation Easement.

Gallery: 60 Montagu

This restoration was coordinated by the preservation contractor, Richard ( Moby) Marks, of Richard Marks Restorations, Inc. He has worked on over 50 restoration projects in the Charleston area, and is a trustee of the Historic Charleston Foundation. The restorations were designed by the architect Glenn Keyes. In a recent interview, he said that the Gaillard-Bennett house was one of the great Federal homes in Charleston, and attributes much of this greatness to the carved and composition ornament mantels, unrivalled in the area. Both Keyes and Marks worked with a team of restoration specialists and designers, including David Hueske, a master plasterer, educated in art conservation and restoration; Monty Hinson, restoration craftsman, and Sheila Wertimer, landscape architect.

The team worked from historic photographs and old sketches to restore the main dwelling, buildings and grounds. Mr. Hueske commented, " One of the most remarkable characteristics of 60 Montagu Street is the Adamesque decorative plasterwork. The number of individual pieces alone is impressive: about 7000 elements in each room, including ceiling medallions, and decorative images over mantels." The intricacy of his work ( see below) alone accounts for two of the four years it took him to complete these elements in the home.

This home is listed and was gratefully referred to Luxist by Lane & Smythe Realtors, Charleston.