Rediscovering Charleston's Colonial Fortifications

The upcoming archaeological investigations now scheduled for early January (2008) are intended to uncover some important components of the eighteenth century Walled City of Charles Town. We are hopeful that we can locate, map, and study the remains of the redan and the lower market that were located on the site. Here’s a sneak peek at what we’re looking for.

The Redan
This small structure, known as a redan, was part of the main line of colonial fortifications that faced Charleston Harbor. This line of brick fortifications was begun along the east side of the Bay Street in the 1690s. Based on European fortification design principles of the day, the angled walls of the redan allowed the five or six cannon mounted within to fire at a wider range of potential targets, and thus better protect the curtain wall and the city from naval assault. When it was built three hundred year ago, the Cooper River washed the redan’s brick walls at high tide. Since that time, the mud flats on the east side of East Bay Street have been built up with silt, ballast stones, trash, and other materials.By 1784 or 1785, when the redan at the east end of Tradd Street was finally removed, an extensive wharf stood between it and the channel of the Cooper River. This extension of Tradd Street is now known as South Adger’s Wharf.

The Lower Market, 1751-1799
A major fire in November 1740, which burned nearly half of Charleston, destroyed the Exchange and Court Room that had recently been built at the east end of Tradd Street. The site sat vacant for several years, except for the presence of the brick redan at the foot of Tradd Street. In 1750 the S.C. legislature approved the building of a new market on a growing wharf on the east side of the brick redan, and construction continued into 1751. From the 1750s onward, the structure was known as the “Lower Market,” to differentiate it from the Beef Market (the site of present City Hall), and provisions of all kinds were sold here, but not slaves. According to a resolution of Charleston City Council in late 1785, after the old brick redan was finally removed, the Lower Market was enlarged, however, it was still too small to accommodate Charleston’s growing market needs, and the site was becoming too congested by the post-Revolutionary expansion of the wharves. In an effort to consolidate the city’s market activities in the new Market Street, this market was closed in 1799, and the city sold the property in early 1800.

Many in Charleston have heard members of the Mayor’s Walled City Task Force talk enthusiastically about the anticipated archaeology at South Adger’s Wharf. Yes, funds have been made available to initiate that work, a team has been assembled, and detailed plans have been formed. But, alas, no earth has yet been turned. The work that was tentatively proposed to commence in mid-October has been repeatedly nudged back from week to week as the contractors and subcontractors working on the adjacent utility project have worked diligently to complete their final tasks. The final clean-up of their site is nearly finished, however, and will soon leave only the asphalt blacktop at South Adger’s Wharf–the proposed dig site–to be removed. The holiday season is now upon us, though, rendering it nearly impossible to muster and the necessary forces to start the dig and to sustain the momentum required to complete it. In short, the postponement continues.

After weighing the factors, the powers-that-be have agreed that we will earnestly plan to commence the archaeological dig at South Adger’s Wharf in early January. This final delay will allow the various contractors time to fulfill their obligations and will permit the Walled City Task Force and its volunteers to disperse for the usual holiday festivities. This dig is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so we can easily wait a few more weeks. Come January, however, we hope you’ll put on your caps and scarves and join us for what will surely be a remarkable discovery process!