Drayton Street


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 from East Bay Street in the north to East Victory Drive in the south. It is named for Ann Drayton, a member of a noted family in Charleston, South Carolina, who had lent four sawyers to assist colonists in building one of the first homes in Savannah. The street is one-way. Its northern section passes through the Savannah Historic District, a National Historic Landmark District.
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. 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.
Drayton Street runs beside nine squares. From north to south:
;To the west of:
  • Reynolds Square
  • Oglethorpe Square
  • Lafayette Square
  • Taylor Square
;To the east of:
  • Johnson Square
  • Wright Square
  • Chippewa Square
  • Madison Square
  • Monterey Square
It also forms the eastern boundary of Forsyth Park.

Notable buildings and structures

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