55 E Bay St

Charleston, SC 29401

$8,400,000
Last Sold Price
5
Beds
7,343 Sq. Ft.
$1,144 / Sq. Ft.
7,343
Sq. Ft.
$1,144
per Sq. Ft.
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Closed 1/29/26
Closed 1/29/26
Front
2
Foyer
Living Room
Living Room
Living Room
Stair Hall
Stair Hall
Foyer & Staircase
Dining Room
Dining Room
Dining Room
Dining Room
Dining Room
Bar
Entrance to Kitchen
Kitchen
Kitchen
Kitchen
Kitchen
Kitchen
Kitchen
Butler's Pantry
Kitchen
Kitchen
Kitchen
Kitchen
Mudroom
Powder Room
Kitchen
Garden from Kitchen
Hall to Family Room
Family Room
Family Room
Family Room
Kitchen House Stairs
Upstairs of Kitchen House
Upstairs of Kitchen House
47_3
47_4
Upstairs Bath in Kitchen House
47_7
Primary Suite
Original 4 Story Staircase
Primary Suite
Primary Suite
Primary Suite
Porch Access
Porch Off Primary
View from Porch
View from Porch
2nd Floor Landing
Drawing Room
67
Drawing Room
69
Third Floor Landing
Third Floor West Bedroom
Third Floor West Bedroom
Third Floor West Bedroom Porch
Third Floor East Bedroom
Third Floor East Bedroom
Third Floor East Bedroom
78
4th Floor Landing
4th Floor Guest Suite
4th Floor Guest Suite
4th Floor Guest Suite
4th Floor Guest Suite
80_1
Alley for utility access
Kitchen Courtyard
Kitchen Courtyard
Kitchen Courtyard
Kitchen Courtyard
Kitchen House Garden
Kitchen House Garden
Screened Porch
Screened Porch
Screened Porch
104
143
109
112
114
116
117
118
120
142
142_1
144
145
146
147
148

Description

This stunning c. 1785 four-story masonry home has been carefully preserved, exhibiting significant historical integrity. It has undergone an extensive renovation, elegantly updated to accommodate modern living and entertaining. Book-ended by Rainbow Row and High Battery, the Jonathan Simpson House was built within the original walled city by a wealthy merchant. Twelve-foot ceilings and grand rooms allow the house to be filled with light. The pine floors run the full extent of the house (28'). Much...This stunning c. 1785 four-story masonry home has been carefully preserved, exhibiting significant historical integrity. It has undergone an extensive renovation, elegantly updated to accommodate modern living and entertaining. Book-ended by Rainbow Row and High Battery, the Jonathan Simpson House was built within the original walled city by a wealthy merchant. Twelve-foot ceilings and grand rooms allow the house to be filled with light. The pine floors run the full extent of the house (28'). Much of the original molding, cypress paneling, doors, and interior shutters remain. The current owners created a hyphen to connect the original home and kitchen house under the direction of renowned Charleston architects Dufford Young, with construction by Artis, winning a 2019 Carolopolis Award. The project allowed for a new side garden design by Sheila Wertimer. The gourmet kitchen features a butler's pantry, mudroom, and floor-to-ceiling steel doors overlooking the side garden. The former kitchen house now features a spacious second-floor guest suite or office and a large secondary living room flanked by original fireplaces, as well as access to the screened porch overlooking the magnificent backyard that encompasses nearly a quarter of an acre of peace and tranquility. Plans were created for a 10' x 30' swimming pool and have been approved by the city. The existing custom-built "shed" could be easily converted to a pool house with bathroom. The original staircase remains, rising eloquently for all four flights, one of the tallest in the city. The second floor of the home has a 21x25 drawing room with five floor-to-ceiling windows. Across the hall, a primary suite with a fireplace and a private porch overlooking historic rooftops and palmetto trees. The third floor includes two spacious bedrooms, both with en-suite bathrooms, as well as a laundry room. The front bedroom offers clear views of Charleston Harbor. The back bedroom offers a private porch that's perched in the palmetto trees. The fourth floor is laid out as a two-room guest suite with a full bathroom and a living room, incredible historic and water views from every window. Of significant architectural interest is the cantilevered marble balcony, which projects from the second floor and is the only one in Charleston constructed in this manner. The elliptical fan light and the use of tall, glazed windows typify the work of the Adam period. Also of notable distinction is the detailed woodwork and roping around the door frame, which makes this one of the more attractive entrances in historic Charleston. The home retains architectural features of the late Georgian period, also embracing the ornamentation that more closely resembles the Adam style or the Federal period of architectural development.
  1. Listed by The Boulevard Company
  2. Listed by The Boulevard Company

Property Details for 55 East Bay Street

Architectural Style
Charleston Single
Subdivision Name
South of Broad
LISTING UPDATED: 01/29/2026 06:31 PM

Property Details for 55 East Bay Street

StatusClosed
MLS #25024554
Days on Market98
Taxes$16,672 / year
HOA Fees-
Condo/Co-op Fees-
Property TypeSingle Family
MLS TypeResidential / Single Family Detached
Year Built1785
Lot Size0.19 AC / 8,276 SF
CountyCharleston County
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Location

Listing Courtesy of The Boulevard Company

Sold By The Cassina Group

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Building Information for 55 East Bay Street

Stories4Year Built1785Building Size-Lot Size0.19 AC / 8,276 SF

Payment Calculator

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$43,247 per month

30 year fixed, 6.36% Interest

Principal and Interest

$41,858

Property Taxes

$1,389

HOA Dues

$0

The Payment Calculator is for illustrative purposes only.

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Property Information for 55 East Bay Street

Summary
Location and General Information
  • Latitude: 32.774214
  • Longitude: -79.927488
  • Directions: Broad St Or S. Battery To E. Battery / E. Bay
  • Entry Location: Ground Level
Taxes and HOA
  • Tax Map Number: 4581301068
School Information
  • Elementary School: Memminger
  • High School: Burke
  • Middle Or Junior School: Courtenay
Parking
  • Attached Garage YN: None
  • Carport Spaces: 0.0
  • Carport YN: False
  • Covered Spaces: 0.0
  • Garage Spaces: 0.0
  • Garage YN: No
  • Parking Features: Off Street, Other
Property
Lot Information
  • Building Area Total: 7343.0
  • Building Area Units: Square Feet
  • Foundation Details: Basement
  • Lot Features: 0 - .5 Acre
  • Other Structures: No, Shed(s)
  • New Construction YN: No
Property and Assessments
  • Property Attached YN: No
  • Photos Count: 96
  • Photo Rights: I own the photos or have the right to use: Yes
  • Assumable: No
Utilities
  • Utilities: Charleston Water Service, Dominion Energy
  • Sewer: Public Sewer
  • Water Source: Public
Interior and Exterior Features
Interior Features
  • Heating YN: No
  • Bathrooms Half: 1
  • Cooling: Central Air
  • Cooling YN: Yes
  • Fireplace Features: Three +
  • Fireplace YN: Yes
  • Interior Features: Ceiling - Cathedral/Vaulted, High Ceilings, Garden Tub/Shower, Walk-In Closet(s), Eat-in Kitchen, Family, Formal Living, Office, Pantry, Separate Dining
  • Laundry Features: Laundry Room
  • Room Master Bedroom Features: Garden Tub/Shower, Multiple Closets, Walk-In Closet(s)
  • Room Master Bedroom Level: Upper
  • Levels: Multi-Story
  • Stories: 4
Exterior Features
  • Patio And Porch Features: Screened
  • Construction Materials: Block, Stucco
  • Exterior Features: Lawn Irrigation
  • Fencing: Wrought Iron
  • Roof: Slate

Property History for 55 East Bay Street

DateEvent & SourcePriceAppreciation
Jan 29, 2026

Sold

CHS Regional MLS #25024554

$8,400,000—
Jan 22, 2026

Sold (Public Record)

Public Record #1928652686

$8,400,000—
Dec 14, 2025

Pending

CHS Regional MLS #25024554

—
DateEvent & SourcePrice
01/29/2026

Sold

CHS Regional MLS #25024554

$8,400,000
01/22/2026

Sold (Public Record)

Public Record #1928652686

$8,400,000
12/14/2025

Pending

CHS Regional MLS #25024554

—

For completeness, we often displays two records for one sale: the MLS record and the public record.

Public Records for 55 East Bay Street

Taxable ValueLand-Additions-Total-
Tax Record2024$16,672 ($1,389 / month)
Home Facts
Beds2Baths5.5Total Finished SqFt1,430 SqFtAbove Grade Finished SqFt1,430 SqFtStories2StyleSingle Family ResidenceYear Built1785CountyCHARLESTONAPN458-13-01-068Fireplace TypeHas Fireplace

Schools near 55 East Bay Street

This home is within Charleston 01 School District.
Rating
School
Type
Grades
Distance
Memminger Elementary School
Public - PK to 5
Simmons Pinckney Middle School
Public - 6 to 8
Burke High School
Public - 9 to 12
West Ashley Center for Advance Studies
Public - 9 to 12
Rating
School
Distance
Memminger Elementary School
PublicPK to 5

Simmons Pinckney Middle School
Public6 to 8

Burke High School
Public9 to 12

West Ashley Center for Advance Studies
Public9 to 12

School ratings and boundaries are provided by GreatSchools.org and Pitney Bowes. This information should only be used as a reference. Proximity or boundaries shown here are not a guarantee of enrollment. Please reach out to schools directly to verify all information and enrollment eligibility.

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Listing Courtesy of The Boulevard Company

We do not attempt to independently verify the currency, completeness, accuracy or authenticity of the data contained herein. It may be subject to transcription and transmission errors. Accordingly, the data is provided on an “as is” “as available” basis only and may not reflect all real estate activity in the market. Photos may be virtually staged or digitally enhanced and may not reflect actual property conditions. No financial or legal advice provided. Equal Housing Opportunity. Based on information from one of the following Multiple Listing Services: Charleston Trident MLS, LowCountry Regional and REsides, Inc. Information being provided is for the visitor’s personal, noncommercial use and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties visitor may be interested in purchasing. The data contained herein is copyrighted by Canopy MLS, High Country Association of REALTORS,© 2024 REsides and LowCountry Regional Inc. All rights reserved. Certain information contained herein is derived from information which is the licensed property of, and copyrighted by, REsides, Inc. Any dissemination of this information is in violation of copyright laws and is strictly prohibited. Property information referenced on this web site comes from the Internet Data Exchange (IDX) program of the MLS. This web site may reference real estate listing(s) held by a brokerage firm other than the broker and/or agent who owns this web site. For the avoidance of doubt, the accuracy of all information, regardless of source, is deemed reliable but not guaranteed and should be personally verified through personal inspection by and/or with the appropriate professionals.