Founded in 1770, the College is an important part of Charleston’s history. But there’s a landmark near campus that gets little recognition—a stone testament to our city’s military past.
You might have noticed a big hunk of rock on the western side of Marion Square. Most students overlook its quiet presence. But this 6’ tall by 10’ wide slab is actually the only above-ground remnant of the “Horn Work” wall, an enclosed fort that covered 5 acres, harbored 18 cannons, and was surrounded on the north side by a moat 10 yards wide.
When King Street was the main road in and out of the city, the wall was meant to surround visitors heading south and protect Charleston from unwelcome military visitors. Unfortunately, the wall didn’t stand much of a chance against a British siege in 1780, and it was taken down in 1784 after the Revolutionary War.
The “Horn Work” fragment might be the only evidence surviving above ground—but according to The Post and Courier, recent archaeological digs suggest there are remnants underground, too. And College of Charleston professors are part of the action. CofC geologist Scott Harris used ground-penetrating radar to get a better idea of pieces of the Horn Work that lie under our feet. Archaeologists hope that the more attention the Horn Work gets, the more researchers will get involved in uncovering a piece of Charleston’s rich history.
Read the Post and Courier‘s full article, “When Upper King was a battlefield,” here.
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