Windsor Ruins
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Windsor Ruins
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Windsor Ruins
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Location of Windsor Ruins in Mississippi
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| Location | Claiborne County, Mississippi |
|---|---|
| Nearest city | Port Gibson, Mississippi |
| Coordinates | 31°56′26″N 91°7′46″W / 31.94056°N 91.12944°WCoordinates: 31°56′26″N 91°7′46″W / 31.94056°N 91.12944°W |
| Area | 2.1 acres (0.85 ha) |
| Built | 1859-61 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival, Italianate |
| NRHP reference # | 71000447 |
| USMS # | 021-ALC-1001-NR-ML |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | November 23, 1971 |
| Designated USMS | October 11, 1985 |
Windsor Ruins are in Claiborne County in the U.S. state of Mississippi, about 10 miles (16 km) southwest of Port Gibson near Alcorn State University. The ruins consist of 23 standing Corinthian columns of the largest antebellum Greek Revival mansion ever built in the state. The mansion stood from 1861 to 1890, when it was destroyed by fire. The 2.1-acre (0.85 ha) site was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971 and was designated a Mississippi Landmark in 1985.
Windsor mansion was located on a plantation that covered 2,600 acres (1,100 ha). The mansion was constructed between 1859 and 1861 for Smith Coffee Daniell II, who was born in Mississippi and had acquired great wealth as a cotton planter by age 30. In 1849, Smith Daniell married his cousin Catherine Freeland (1830–1903). The couple had six children, with three surviving to adulthood.
Windsor mansion was built facing the Mississippi River and was located about 4 mi (6.4 km) east of the river. Although much of the basic construction of Windsor mansion was accomplished by Smith Daniell's slaves, architect David Shroder supervised a crew of skilled artisans—carpenters, plasterers, masons, and painters—from Mississippi, northeastern states, and Europe to do finishing work on the mansion.
The footprint for Windsor mansion was set by 29 columns which supported a projected roof line that protected 9 ft (2.7 m) wide verandas on the second and third floors. The 29 columns were constructed of bricks that were covered with stucco. Each column was more than 3.5 ft (1.1 m) in diameter at their base and stood 40 ft (12 m) tall. The columns were constructed atop 10 ft (3.0 m) tall, paneled brick plinths that were almost 5 ft (1.5 m) square. Bricks were made in an onsite kiln. The fluted columns were crowned with ornate, iron Corinthian capitals, and the columns were joined at the height of the third floor by ornamental iron balustrades.
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