Chelsea Plantation - Ridgeland, SC
- Don Schueler
- Sep 2
- 4 min read
Updated: 7 days ago
The entrance to Chelsea today
One of the most beautiful properties in the Lowcountry of South Carolina is in Okatie, SC, between Bluffton, SC, and Beaufort, SC, along the Okatie River. It is called Chelsea Plantation, and it was recently up for "re-development" into 1,400 homes, multi-family housing, mini-storage, and commercial space! Thankfully, it was saved by The Nature Conservancy and will be made available for public access.
History of Chelsea
Chelsea was first linked to two prominent Lowcountry families, the Heywards and the Pritchards. Chelsea owner John Cuthbert Heyward was the great-nephew of Thomas Heyward Jr., a signer of the U.S. Declaration of Independence, who was born and is interred at Old House Plantation just up the road from Chelsea.
In 1829, John Cuthbert Heyward chose Chelsea as his family home, favoring it over several Sandy Hill, Tickton Hall(which was near/part of Chelsea), Rose Hill, and Pick Pocket plantations from which to choose. His two-story white clapboard house—complete with a hip roof, pediment, and front porch—reflected the architectural style of other estates like Coffin Point and Marshlands.
John Cuthbert Heyward(1807-1839) and wife Constantia Pritchard Heyward (1812-1859)
Tragically, John Heyward died in a hunting accident when he was thrown by his horse in 1839; his brother Daniel became trustee while brother-in-law William Richard Pritchard Jr. managed the estate. Financial struggles followed, and after Constantia Heyward’s death in 1859 and her mother’s in 1863, the Pritchard family foreclosed on debts and sold Chelsea to the Fripp family. There is some evidence that the debts had been previously cleared but the debt documents were never destroyed or marked closed, so the Pritchards had an easy time gaining the property.
NOTE: This post draws much of its information from the excellent work done by John David Myles, principal of Wild Holly Studio, Simpsonville, KY. Here is his original PDF.
Also see this excellent article about the local history of Chelsea and its pending "development" (which was thankfully avoided).
The Hunting Club Era
In the late 1880s, the property became a hunting retreat managed by John Edwin Fripp. As members acquired more land, by 1931 the club spanned 20,000 acres and hosted an exclusive clientele—from New York bankers to railroad magnates. A 1930s columnist described the club’s interior as richly detailed with exquisite wallpapers by the New York artist Theban. However, in 1936, the clubhouse was destroyed by fire, prompting members to sell rather than rebuild.
Marshall Field III and the New Chelsea
In early 1937, Marshall Field III—grandson of the Marshall Fields department store founder and a prominent financier and philanthropist—acquired Chelsea. At this time, he was with his 3rd and final wife, Ruth.
A Boston-educated and globetrotting scion, Field had built impressive residences, but for Chelsea he sought out Simons & Lapham, a Charleston architectural firm known for blending English precedents with regional Southern aesthetics.
Side Note: Marshall Field III's Caumsett home at Lloyds Neck, Long Island, NY.
At the time he purchased Chelsea, Marshall Fields III had already built his home, Caumsett, at Lloyds Neck, Long Island, NY. He acquired over 1,750 acres around 1921 and commissioned the construction of the estate. The main house was built in 1925. Chelsea's "Quail Lodge" looked like a small hunting cottage compared to Caumsett. This estate exists today and is a state park: https://parks.ny.gov/parks/23/details.aspx
For an excellent overview of this estate, including the home inside and out click HERE.
Architectural Highlights
Simons & Lapham designed a quail lodge that beautifully married influences—from Belton House’s classical balance to Charleston’s Federal and Greek Revival details. Highlights include whitewashed brick with a slate hip roof, flared eaves, triple-hung windows, elliptical fanlights, octagonal porch columns, and a whimsical Doric frieze with ball “metopes”. Inside, the layout centered on comfort for equestrian and social pursuits: formal yet intimate, with living and dining spaces oriented toward the scenic Harbor River view. Exteriors featured formal symmetry while interior details—cornices, mantels, stair bannisters—were enriched with motifs inspired by Charleston’s Edmonston-Alston house.
Chelsea and "Quail Lodge" today including the Doubleday guest house added by Nelson Doubleday Jr. (of publishing fame and owner of the New York Mets)
Continuity and Care
Chelsea has remained remarkably unchanged since its construction. Designed with both luxury and practicality, the quail lodge included modern conveniences—private baths, a large kitchen—and thoughtful architectural touches like a mahogany stair banister with an engraved plaque noting the house’s creators and date. Marshall Field III passed away in 1956, and his widow Ruth Pruyn Field maintained the property until her death in 1994. She passed away at Chelsea.
Interesting local connection: Bluffton's Princess Henrietta Pollitzer Hartford's son Huntington Hartford invested with Marshall Field III to start PM magazine in New York. It was notable for being advertising-free and having a progressive, liberal editorial stance. The publication aimed to focus on quality journalism and often featured human-interest stories, photography, and commentary; it was recognized for its bold design and independence. PM was in business for just eight years, publishing in New York City from June 1940 until June 22, 1948
Later Additions and Legacy
After Ruth Field’s passing, part of the estate—now about 6,000 acres—was sold to Nelson Doubleday Jr., famed for the family publishing business and owning the New York Mets; his contribution was a refined guest house built in 2004 by architect Eric J. Smith. The structure elegantly echoes the original with matching materials and harmonious proportions . Set near the protected ACE Basin, Chelsea stands as a beautifully preserved example of Carolina hunting plantation architecture amid a vast and enduring natural landscape.
In 2019, Chelsea Plantation changed hands and plans soon emerged for several large-scale developments. When proposals for over 1,400 homes, multi-family housing, mini-storage and commercial space surfaced, the community rose up - thank goodness!
In Spring of 2025, The Nature Conservancy purchased Chelsea, and 2,700 acres, and the Open Land Trust and others will help protect it from development – forever. See more here.
Also referenced for this post:
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