About 73 Church Street
Built circa 1733, 73 Church Street is one of the earliest surviving residences in Charleston - meticulously renovated with a private walled courtyard and garage, just steps from the Battery and Broad Street. Historically known as the Thomas Dale House, the property is believed to have been given by Miles Brewton to his daughter Mary upon her marriage to Dr. Thomas Dale. Originally two stories, the home has evolved over nearly three centuries into its current three-floor plan totaling approximately 2,936 square feet with three bedrooms and three-and-a-half baths. The house opens through a central stair hall with a graceful staircase and tall ceilings, setting the tone for the historic scale that carries throughout the home. The first floor features formal living and dining rooms with original fireplaces and built-ins that flow into an updated eat-in kitchen - Calacatta Gold marble, high-end appliances, custom cabinetry, and classic black-and-white tile - with sightlines through to the courtyard garden. The second floor offers double parlors with fireplaces and built-in bookshelves, filled with natural light from windows on multiple sides, along with two guest bedrooms, each with a thoughtfully renovated en suite bath featuring marble console vanities and glass mosaic tile showers. The entire third floor is dedicated to the primary suite, creating a private level with a sitting area, renovated bath with soaking tub and glass shower, laundry, and a covered porch with ceiling fan and sweeping rooftop views across the Charleston skyline.
The renovation was both thoughtful and substantive, including a standing seam copper roof, utile woodwork throughout - doors, cabinetry, and trim, multiple original fireplaces preserved, plantation shutters throughout, iron stair spindles and Generac generator. Every bathroom has been carefully updated. The result is a historic home that retains its architectural character while living comfortably today.
Behind the house is a brick-paved walled courtyard garden centered on a fountain, with mature landscaping, irrigation, space for outdoor dining, and a gas line for grilling - an outdoor room as much as a garden. Within the property sits the garage, a genuine rarity on Church Street South of Broad. While not oversized, it accommodates a small vehicle or golf cart and is currently used by the owner as a woodworking workshop. The owner also holds the exclusive right to park in front of the garage, providing reliable available parking. Historic houses in Charleston are not uncommon. Finding one from this early period that has been this carefully renovated - with a private courtyard, garage, and a location in the center of South of Broad - is far more unusual.
