Bancroft, Wendell, House
Why it's listed
Built between about 1867 and 1870 at the corner of Washington and Woburn Streets in Reading, this two and one-half story house is one of the few high-style Gothic Revival residences in the town, where the style was more readily used for churches. It has a hipped roof, wood clapboard walls and a three-bay plan. Steeply pitched transverse gables on the west facade carry bargeboards with a trefoil motif, and the south dormers have lancet windows. The only major alteration noted is the removal of roof cresting. Wendell Bancroft, the original owner, was one of Reading's leading businessmen. He helped found the First National Bank of Reading, served as an officer of the Mechanics Savings Bank, and worked as a builder and contractor who developed real estate in partnership with Temple. He also ran a warehouse and a coal and lumber yard. The house was listed for this association and for its architecture.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is significant for its connection with Wendell Bancroft, a prominent local businessman, builder and bank officer. It is also significant as one of the few high-style Gothic Revival residences in Reading, a town that favored the style mainly for churches. The form says it retains integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship and feeling.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 84002477, listed July 19, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 20 Washington St., Reading |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | July 19, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84002477 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Architect unknown; original owner Wendell Bancroft, who was a builder and contractor |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Roof cresting has been removed; two carpenter shops and a barn stand on an adjacent lot. The house has not been moved. |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Coordinates | 42.52227, -71.11026 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 84002477.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7982387
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.