Richland County · Marker 40-129
Kensington
Intersection of McCords Ferry Rd. (U.S. Hwy. 601) & S.C. Hwy. 764 (Old Eastover Rd.), at the entrance fo Kensington, Eastover vicinity
Front inscription
This plantation on the Wateree River features a remarkable Italianate Revival house built in 1852-54. Designed by Charleston architects Edward C. Jones and Francis D. Lee, it was built for Matthew Richard Singleton (1817-1854) and Martha Kinloch Singleton (1818-1892). Jacob Stroyer described life as a slave here in his memoir, first published in 1879.
Reverse inscription
Kensington was owned by members of the Singleton, Hamer, and Lanham families until the late twentieth century, and though the house fell into disrepair the land was farmed for many years. Kensington was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1971. It was sold to Union Camp (later International Paper) in 1981, restored in 1983-84, and opened for educational programs.