Constructed about 1830, Britton Mims Place, also known historically as Selwood and Belvedere Farms, stands as one of the finest surviving antebellum plantation residences in the North Augusta area. Built for prosperous planter and Augusta businessman Britton Mims (ca. 1769–1833), the house occupies land that was once part of the historic Edgefield District before becoming part of Aiken County in 1871. The plantation originated from a much larger tract acquired by Mims in 1819, and the residence has remained on its original site for nearly two centuries, preserving both its architectural integrity and its rural setting.

The two-story frame dwelling is an excellent example of a modest Greek Revival plantation house typical of South Carolina’s planter class during the antebellum era. Resting on a brick foundation, the house features weatherboard siding, a side-gabled metal roof, and a symmetrical five-bay façade. A full-width one-story front verandah, enhanced by a central pediment and supported by square columns with simple molded capitals, provides an elegant but restrained entrance. Although the porch received early twentieth-century alterations, it complements the original architectural composition while reflecting the property’s continued evolution through successive generations.

The interior retains an impressive collection of original Greek Revival detailing, including finely crafted mantels, paneled doors, wide heart pine flooring, staircase elements, and decorative millwork. These surviving features illustrate the quality of craftsmanship found in prosperous rural residences of the period while conveying the refinement expected in the home of a successful plantation owner. The house’s balanced floor plan and restrained classical ornament embody the ideals of order and proportion that defined the Greek Revival movement throughout the South during the first half of the nineteenth century.

Equally significant is the property’s collection of historic outbuildings, which includes a former detached kitchen converted to storage, a rare wooden doghouse, a two-hole privy, and a rectangular fowl house. Together with the main residence, these surviving dependencies provide an unusually complete picture of the organization and daily operation of an antebellum plantation complex. The surrounding agricultural landscape further reinforces the property’s historic character and contributes to its exceptional level of integrity.

Because of its remarkable preservation, architectural significance, and association with one of the area’s prominent early planter families, Britton Mims Place remains one of Aiken County’s most important surviving antebellum plantation houses. The property offers an outstanding representation of early nineteenth-century rural architecture and plantation life in western South Carolina and was appropriately listed in the National Register of Historic Places on June 4, 1997, recognizing both its architectural merit and its enduring contribution to the state’s historic heritage.