Built in 1803, Charleston’s historic Sword Gate House has served as a private residence, a girls’ academy, and an inn. The Federal-style estate in the city’s South of Broad neighborhood is known for its wrought-iron gates, shaped like swords and crafted by Charleston ironworker Christopher Werner in the mid-19th century. Over the years, the property has welcomed diplomats, prominent Charleston families, artists, musicians, actors, and literary figures.
Now, the 17,142-square-foot estate is set to list for $35 million, which would make it the most expensive property ever listed in the greater Charleston area. Leslie Turner, founding partner and broker in charge of Maison Real Estate, is representing the property.
The asking price would be a significant jump from its last sale price. The previous owners bought the estate for $3 million in 1999 and held onto it for more than two decades before selling it for $10 million in July 2020. Before that sale, the property had been listed for as much as $23 million in 2009 and returned to the market at $19.5 million in 2016. The highest-priced downtown Charleston sale to date was a home on East Bay Street that sold for about $21 million in October 2025, with the total transaction reportedly reaching $21.575 million when furnishings were included.
The house has changed over the past two centuries, with additions made over several generations. The current owners undertook an extensive renovation, updating the interiors with custom furnishings, designer lighting, and new finishes while preserving historic details such as intricate plasterwork, period millwork, exposed brick, and soaring ceilings. The layout includes a ballroom, an intimate dining room, two family rooms, a study, and a gym, alongside two main kitchens—one for everyday use and another for chefs and caterers…