Greek Revival
One of the most important Greek Revival country mansions of South Carolina, “Milford” is a large, pre-Civil War plantation on the “High Hills of the Santee” river near the point where the Wateree and Gongaree Rivers merge – a very rural neighborhood. Beautiful and extensive landscaping with mature trees and shrubs; pines, cedars, and magnolias hanging with Spanish moss. Cost reputed to be $100,000 in 1839, which would be at least 22 Million in 2015 dollars for the house alone. Millford Plantation is operated by the Classical American Homes Preservation Trust , along with several other historic houses. Tours are conducted on the first Saturday of every month from February to December (with exceptions), with tours every Saturday in the month of April.
Heavy, recessed, double, four-paneled front doors of mahogany with side lights and transom; elaborate entablature with dentil cornice and flaring palmette supported by two Corinthian columns in antis. Four-paneled mahogany interior doors on the first floor; architrave with Greek Revival trim based on palmettes. Between the stair and hall is a screen of large double mahogany doors with side lights and transom; architrave with Greek Revival detail based on palmettes. In the middle of the double living room is a screen of four doors; the inner two slide into outer two, which are glazed with mirrors, and these, in turn, fold back on a track into a wall recess; the inner pair are of mahogany with four panels. Antique silver-plated brass hardware (such as mortise locks and butt hinges) throughout house.
Large, floor-length windows on the first floor; double-hung wooden sash slide up into wall at top; sash are six-over nine lights. Wooden slatted (operable) shutters on first- and second-story windows. Small, one-pane windows on the third floor within entablature surrounded by wreath-like scrolls.The grand curving stair in apse has open string with fancy carved scrolls, pine steps with the original carpeting. The scroll-like heavy newel is in the Empire style; the simple balusters and railing are of mahogany. There are separate service stairs, first through third.
Plaster walls and ceiling; stucco cornices; stucco ceiling medallions in all rooms on first and second stories; low, ribbed dome over stair hall and oculus decorated with rosettes and palmettes. High wooden baseboards. Living room has heavy double cornice and an entablature across room with two columns and pilaster at walls. Library has large mahogany bookcases around the walls. Several antique light fixtures in house in the empire style, including two large glass-enclosed hexagonal candle fixtures in first-floor hall.