Why do charleston porches have doors

You would be hard pressed to find other places in the world where you will see beautiful front and side porches on so many different style homes. Mary and I traveled to Charleston to bring you some unique front porch ideas. It's a fun city to explore; there's a porch around every corner and down every street.

We strolled up and down almost every street in the historical district and saw some amazing porches. The Charleston Single : The Charleston Single is a Federal-style home that has a central hall with two to four rooms flanking each side.

The home is turned so that the front porch and two outside doors are located on one side. When the outer "hospitality" door is left open, it was a signal to neighbors and friends that the owners were home and ready to receive guests. Placing the porch on the side gave owners more privacy and a deeper layout on typical long, narrow lots.

They include the famous Sword Gates pictured below. If you travel down the street further to 14 Legate Street you will find the famed "Pineapple Gates" home. If so, here's a few porch hunting tips! Walk along East Battery Street famed Battery Row to find exquisite waterfront mansions built from to Find both single for which Charleston is famous and double houses on Church and Meeting Streets.

I have had so many people ask about the odd shape of the homes which we call Charleston Singles. These long narrow homes first greet you with a front porch door that, without seeing the side of the home, you would think you are walking into the home. However, you are walking onto a porch where you will find another door, the real entrance to the house.

Why a porch door? Known as hospitality doors, these portals were a way to communicate with friends and neighbors. Leaving the door open meant that the occupants were home and ready to receive guests and offer up some true lowcountry southern hospitality. I can envision a pitcher of sweet tea, sitting on a small porch table now! Search form. Single House. July Suzannah Smith Miles. Hinged on History. Charleston Hardware sells a myriad of lines of meticulous reproductions.

The Charleston Profile.