About

The Barnwell Tabby on Squire Pope Road at the North End of the Island is a fascinating piece of Hilton Head Island’s history. This well-preserved tabby structure likely dates back to the 1820s or 1830s. Constructed by the Barnwell family, the structure and property has been handed down through generations.

The Barnwell Tabby is the best-preserved example of this building technique on Hilton Head. Although records of the building were likely destroyed during the Civil War, it’s believed to have been used for cotton production.

The Barnwell family are descendants of enslaved individuals who once worked on the property. As with many descendants of slaves, there are often gaps in their family histories.

The structure is situated on private property. It likely belonged to the historic Cotton Hope Plantation, and even earlier, to Skull Creek Plantation. The Barnwell Site is an active archaeological site with ongoing research.

The Barnwell Archaeological Research Project is a collaborative effort involving the SC Archaeology Public Outreach Division (SCAPOD) and the University of South Carolina Beaufort.