...to Relive History.
Once the home of a Nineteenth Century plantation owner, today Linwood
offers an elegant and peaceful retreat with delightful guest rooms, private
baths, secluded sitting areas, delicious and healthful breakfasts, English
afternoon tea, a large swimming pool, wide porches, nearly two acres of
stunning gardens and lots of lovely amenities.
Linwood Historic Home and Gardens has been a Bed and Breakfast for over 13 years, officially opening in 1995. However, gracious hospitality at this historic and beautiful mansion began 30 years ago when Linda and Peter Shelbourne purchased the property in 1979. They were married in England in 1961, lived and traveled abroad before settling their family in the quaint, Southern town of Summerville just minutes from historic Charleston, SC. They are very involved in church and community and could be called "Extreme Gardners". Linda is a Master Gardner and Peter is very strong!
Linwood, the quintessential elevated Summerville Victorian framed house with columned, elevated, wide porches front and back was built in 1883 by Julia Drayton Hastie, heiress to Magnolia on the Ashley Plantation. The two-acre site was selected so that husband, William Hastie, could walk one block to the railroad station and catch the commuter train into Charleston and his Broad Street insurance office. With two generations of northern blood intermingled with southern landed gentry, Summerville was undoubtedly a good choice for home considering the Civil War was less than 20 years past. Julia's father, the renowned Reverend John Grimke Drayton, nephew of famous (infamous) abolitionists. Sarah and Angelina Grimke and developer of Magnolia-On-The-Ashley plantation as the first public gardens in the US, lived the latter part of his life and died at Linwood in 1891. Julia inherited Magnolia and moved to the plantation after 20 years at Linwood.
The main
house is basically a center hall colonial floor plan with two pairs of
reception rooms, enjoying Victorian bays and large, triple sash windows
with original glass. The dining room extends out beyond the simple plan.
The kitchen was underneath, on ground level. The food was brought upstairs
by a dumb waiter. The original kitchen is now a mini apartment. Summer
kitchen and porches have been enclosed to create a larger kitchen, laundry
and bath room at the rear. Linwood was one of many houses in Summerville
to have large, two story additions which were open to the elements, built
on one end of the house, around the turn of the 19th century, as a respite
for the TB sufferers. These porches are now enclosed sun catchers offering
picturesque views of the award-winning gardens. Two guest cottages and the
barn can still be reached by the back lane.
Early
photos show the sand and pine trees native to the two-acre site. The Drayton
Hastie family was the first of many who, year upon year added layer upon
layer of landscaped beauty developing azalea lined, sandy pathways leading
from one garden adventure to another. Hurricane Hugo, in 1989, contributed
immeasurably to a redesign. Ancient camellias, azaleas, majestic magnolias
and stately palms continue to dominate the tranquil scene. Elevated porches
offer a panoramic view of the lush, more formal gardens. The service yard
at the rear contained the carriage house, stable, barn, hen house, gas
house, flower dump, cistern WCs, vegetable garden, wells and whatever
else contributed to support the small estate.
Many community and charitable organizations have been welcomed to our beautiful Linwood grounds for their tours, teas, receptions and events. Some of these include the Summerville Dorchester Chamber of Commerce, DREAM (Downtown Revitalization Enrichment And Management), Children-in-Crisis, Summerville Community Orchestra, Golden Age of Summerville, Breast Cancer Awareness, Garden Clubs of America, The Summerville Artist Guild. The gardens are available for viewing by arrangement.
Articles and comments about Linwood can be read in the following publications; Beth's Pineland Village, Legacy of Beauty, Sandllapper Magazine, The State (travel section), Summerville Journal Scene, Post and Courier, LowCountry Living, American Historic Inns, Arrington's Bed and Breakfast Journal, Christian Bed and Breakfasts.
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