Drayton Street
A mid-20th-century view of the stretch of Drayton Street at the southeastern corner of Forsyth Park
NamesakeAnn Drayton
Length2 mi (3.2 km)
LocationSavannah, Georgia, U.S.
North endEast Bay Street
South endEast Victory Drive (U.S. Route 80)

Drayton Street is a prominent street in Savannah, Georgia, United States. Located between Bull Street to the west and Abercorn Street to the east, it runs for about 2 miles (3.2 km) from East Bay Street in the north to East Victory Drive (U.S. Route 80) in the south. It is named for Ann Drayton, a member of a noted family in Charleston, South Carolina,[1][2] who had lent four sawyers to assist colonists in building one of the first homes in Savannah.[3][4] The street is one-way (northbound).[5] Its northern section passes through the Savannah Historic District, a National Historic Landmark District.[6]

On the northern side of East Bay Street, beneath the Savannah Cotton Exchange, the Drayton Street Ramp leads down through Factors Walk to River Street at the Savannah River. In the 19th century, the city allowed the Exchange to build on top of ramp, as long as they left the ramp accessible below, hence its unique design.[7] Sometime after 1857, the ramp was walled off, preventing access to and from River Street via Bay Street. Claghorn and Cunningham had petitioned the city council to erect a wall at the foot of the street to prevent the flow of sand down from the bluff which would impede their building plans.[8]

Drayton Street runs beside nine squares. From north to south:

To the west of
To the east of

It also forms the eastern boundary of Forsyth Park.[9]

Notable buildings and structures

The former Savannah/Candler Hospital overlooks the northeastern corner of Forsyth Park

Below is a selection of notable buildings and structures on Drayton Street, all in Savannah's Historic District. From north to south:[10]

References

  1. ↑ Stramm, Polly Powers. "Polly's People: The 'curious' naming of historic streets". Savannah Morning News. Retrieved April 13, 2022.
  2. ↑ "Drayton Hall The Women of Drayton Hall: Ann Drayton, Rebecca Perry Drayton, and Charlotte Drayton Manigault - Drayton Hall". www.draytonhall.org. Retrieved April 13, 2022.
  3. ↑ Russell, David Lee (2006). Oglethorpe and Colonial Georgia: A History, 1733-1783. McFarland & Company. ISBN 9780786422333.
  4. ↑ Orsolits, Barbara Spence (2019). The Draytons Of Drayton Hall: Land, Kinship Ties And The British on Hall: Land, Kinship Ties And The British Atlantic World. Georgia State University.
  5. ↑ "One-way street changes in the works for downtown Savannah?". Retrieved April 21, 2022.
  6. ↑ James Dillon (1977) National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: The Savannah Georgia NHL Historic District, National Park Service and Accompanying 25 photos, from 1964, 1973
  7. ↑ "Savannah's Historic Waterfront An Architectural and Urban Tour" – Dr Robin Williams, the Chair of Architectural History at Savannah College of Art and Design, Urban Traces, YouTube, May 4, 2020
  8. ↑ Republican, October 17, 1856
  9. ↑ "Savannah, GA's Historic Forsyth Park". Go South! Savannah. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  10. ↑ Historic Building Map: Savannah Historic District – Historic Preservation Department of the Chatham County-Savannah Metropolitan Planning Commission (November 17, 2011)
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