$9,600,000 No Recent Price Change
55 E Bay Street
Charleston, SC 29401
  • Beds 5 Beds
  • Baths 5 Full Baths
  • 1 Half Baths
  • SqFt 7,343 SqFt
  • 1785 Year Built
  • 0.19 Acres
  • N/A Tax
  • N/A Price Per SqFt
  • 14 days Days On Site
  • MLS# 25016001
  • Residential
  • Single Family Detached
  • Active

  • Approx Time on Market14 days
  • AreaHistoric Charleston
  • CountyCharleston
  • Subdivision South Of Broad

What's Special

This stunning c. 1785 four-story masonry home has been carefully preserved, exhibiting significant historical integrity. It has undergone a meticulous renovation, elegantly updated to accommodate modern living and entertaining. Book-ended by Rainbow Row and High Battery, the Jonathan Simpson House was built within the original walled city by a wealthy merchant. Twelve-foot ceilings and grand rooms allow the house to be filled with light. The pine floors run the full extent of the house (28'). Much of the original molding, cypress paneling, doors, and interior shutters remain. The current owners created a hyphen to connect the original home and kitchen house under the direction of renowned Charleston architects Dufford Young, with construction by Artis, winning a 2019 Carolopolis Award.The project allowed for a new side garden design by Sheila Wertimer. The gourmet kitchen features a butler's pantry, mudroom, and floor-to-ceiling steel doors overlooking the side garden. The former kitchen house now features a spacious second-floor guest suite or office and a large secondary living room flanked by original fireplaces, as well as access to the screened porch overlooking the magnificent backyard that encompasses nearly a quarter of an acre of peace and tranquility. Plans were created for a 10' x 30' swimming pool and have been approved by the city.The original staircase remains, rising eloquently for all four flights, one of the tallest in the city. The second floor of the home has a 21x25 drawing room with five floor-to-ceiling windows. Across the hall, a primary suite with a fireplace and a private porch overlooking historic rooftops and palmetto trees. The third floor includes two spacious bedrooms, both with en-suite bathrooms, as well as a laundry room. The front bedroom offers clear views of Charleston Harbor. The back bedroom offers a private porch that's perched in the palmetto trees. The fourth floor is laid out as a two-room guest suite with a full bathroom and a living room, incredible historic and water views from every window.Of significant architectural interest is the cantilevered marble balcony, which projects from the second floor and is the only one in Charleston constructed in this manner. The elliptical fan light and the use of tall, glazed windows typify the work of the Adam period. Also of notable distinction is the detailed woodwork and roping around the door frame, which makes this one of the more attractive entrances in historic Charleston. The home retains architectural features of the late Georgian period, also embracing the ornamentation that more closely resembles the Adam style or the Federal period of architectural development.



Agriculture / Farm

Grazing Permits Forest Service:  No

Grazing Permits Private:  No

Grazing Permits Blm:  No

Horse:  No

Farm Credit Service Incl:  No

Association Fees / Info

Bathroom Info

Halfbaths:  1

Fullbaths:  5

Building Info

Window Features:  Window Treatments

Year Built:  1785

Business Info

Rent Control:  No

Buyer Compensation

Exterior Features

Fencing:  Wrought Iron

Misc Ext:  Screened

Pool Private:  No

Garage / Parking

Gar Pkg:  Off Street, Other

Garage:  No

Attached Garage:  No

Green / Env Info

Interior Features

Desclocation:  Three +

Interior Features:  Ceiling - Cathedral/Vaulted, High Ceilings, Garden Tub/Shower, Walk-In Closet(s), Eat-in Kitchen, Family, Formal Living, Office, Pantry, Separate Dining

Fireplace:  Yes

Laundry Features:  Laundry Room

Lot Info

Lot Size:  0.19

Lot Size Units:  Acres

Acres:  0.19

Lot Sqft:  8276.4

Irrigation Water Rights:  No

Offer Compensation

Other

Mobile Home Remains:  No

Property Info

Property Type:  A

Stories:  4

Foundation:  Basement

Exterior:  Block, Stucco

New Construction:  No

Roof:  Slate

Property Subtype:  No

Building Area Units:  Square Feet

Entry Location:  Ground Level

View:  No

Home Warranty:  No

Habitable Residence:  No

Room Info

Beds:  5

Primary Bedroom Features:  Garden Tub/Shower, Multiple Closets, Walk-In Closet(s)

Room Master Bedroom Level:  Upper

Sale / Lease Info

Lease Renewal Option:  No

Lease Considered:  No

Lease Assignable:  No

Special Features

Sqft Info

Sqft:  7343

Unit Info

Utilities / Hvac

Water Source:  Public

Utilities:  Charleston Water Service, Dominion Energy

Heating:  No

Water Sewer:  Public Sewer

Cooling:  Central Air

Cooling:  Yes

Waterfront / Water

Waterfront:  No

Schools

Elem:  Memminger

Middle:  Courtenay

High:  Burke

Directions

Broad St Or S. Battery To E. Bay St.

Courtesy of listing office The Boulevard Company 

Registered accounts can access a Google map for this property and view nearby Point Of Interests such as:
  • Banks
  • Church's
  • Doctor's
  • Gas Station's
  • Hospital
  • Parks
  • Pharmacy's
  • Restaurant's
  • School's
  • Supermarket's
Register

Already have an account? Log in
On walshchs.com since Mon, Jun 9th 2025
No Property History recorded for this listing.

Mortgage Calculator

%
$
%
Dollars per $1000
$
Approximate Monthly Payment 0.0

Residential, Land, Other Disclaimer:

Broker Reciprocity The data relating to real estate for sale on this web site comes in part from the Broker ReciprocitySM Program of the Charleston Trident Multiple Listing Service. Real estate listings held by brokerage firms other than William Means Real Estate, LLC are marked with the Broker ReciprocitySM logo or the Broker ReciprocitySM thumbnail logo (a little black house) and detailed information about them includes the name of the listing brokers. Last updated on 06-24-2025 1:03 PM EST . The broker providing these data believes them to be correct, but advises interested parties to confirm them before relying on them in a purchase decision. Copyright 2025 Charleston Trident Multiple Listing Service, Inc. All rights reserved.
Commercial Sale/Lease: Copyright 2025 South Carolina commercial MLS, Inc. All rights reserved. Last updated on 06-24-2025 1:03 PM EST est.

Any images related to data from the MLS is the sole property of the MLS and not the responsibility of the owner of this website.


This real estate website and IDX data is Powered & Hosted by IDX data is hosted by Dynamic IDX, LLC Real Estate Web Solutions