Bed Chambers at the Bloomsbury Inn

Inspected and Recommended by Select Registry and the South Carolina B&B Association.

Bloomsbury hosts exceptionally large bed chambers, 20’ by 20’ and 20’ by 14’, elegantly appointed with fine furnishings, many antiques and top amenities. Each bed chamber features a comfortable sitting/reading area, a decorative fireplace with the original 1849 mantel, and a private 1930’s antique Italian tile bathroom. Each bed chamber has been personally designed for your comfort, to include individually thermostat-controlled central heat/air. Between the center hallway and the guests rooms, you will find over 20 current magazines, well-stocked bookshelves, a coffee/tea station, and even paperbacks “to go”. The price listed at the end of each bed chamber description is the all inclusive price: afternoon social at 5:30 pm, full gourmet breakfast, and all taxes.

The General’s Chamber

The most masculine king bed chamber of Bloomsbury, washed in deep colors, is named for James Chesnut, the youngest of 13 children in a wealthy South Carolina family who owned five square miles of plantation land. His parents, James Chesnut, Sr, and Mary Cox Chesnut, built Bloomsbury in 1849. An 1837 graduate of law, College of New Jersey “Princeton”, James served 12 years in the South Carolina legislature before becoming a US Senator. He resigned his Senate seat after the 1860 presidential election to return home to serve on the committee that drafted the South Carolina secession ordinance. After Bull Run he served on the staff of President Jefferson Davis. In April 1864, James received a field duty assignment and was appointed a Brigadier General. Following the war, he resumed the practice of law and returned to his beloved wife, Mary Boykin Chesnut, and Camden, South Carolina. This 20’ by 20’ room features a king-sized bed, large sitting area, writing desk, lighted world globe, all season fireplace and private bath. $179 all inclusive.  CHECK AVAILABILITY

The Mary Chesnut Chamber

This elegant queen bed chamber is named for Mary Boykin Chesnut, wife of James Chesnut, a woman of society in the best sense, noted for her personal warmth, great wit and acute mind. In her daily journal, 48 thin volumes, which eventually became A Diary of Dixie, she brought life to the daily tribulations and human dimensions of the Civil War.  In this very house, 12 June 1865, she wrote, “And yet from my window I look out on many a gallant youth and maiden fair. The street is crowded, and it is a gay sight…They call the walk in front of Bloomsbury the boulevard”. This 20’ by 20’ room features a tall queen-sized rice bed, a large sitting area, an art deco secretariat desk, a private dressing area, all season fireplace and private bath. $169 all inclusive.  CHECK AVAILABILITY

The Sweet Williams’ Chamber

A Robin’s egg blue bed chamber with matching Italian tile bath represents Mary Chesnut’s sister’s children: the “Sweet Williams”. The Sweet Williams were the favored nieces and nephews and they were frequent visitors.  Mary wrote that the Sweet Williams were much like their Mother, Kate—most agreeable and of good character. This 20’ by 14’ room hosts an iron queen-sized bed, a writing table, comfortable winged-back reading chair, all season fireplace and private bath. $159 all inclusive. CHECK AVAILABILITY

The Sarah “Sally” Chesnut Chamber

The garden bed chamber! Miss Sarah "Sally" Chesnut, sister of James Chesnut, Jr., inherited Bloomsbury upon the passing of her parents. Although she lived many years in the home, she was most proud of her presence of mind and cool self-possession in the face of the enemy.  Mary Chestnut recorded in her diary Sally’s experience. When one Yankee Officer came into Bloomsbury, while everyone was seated for breakfast, “Rebels have no rights,” Sally said politely. “I suppose you have come to rob us. Please do so and go”. The man jumped up in rage and left empty-handed. Following the war, the Chesnuts sold eggs to maintain Bloomsbury. This 20’ by 14’ room is truly a garden fair, featuring a 1929 queen-sized bed, a comfortable sitting space, a lawyer’s bookcase desk, all season fireplace and private bath. $159 all inclusive.  CHECK AVAILABILITY