Fonthill, Mercer Museum and Moravian Pottery and Tile Works
Also known as: See Also:Fonthill; Mercer Museum; Moravian Pottery and Tile Wo
Why it's listed
Three reinforced-concrete sites in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, were built by Henry Chapman Mercer between 1907 and 1916: his house Fonthill, the Mercer Museum, and the Moravian Pottery and Tile Works. Fonthill was loosely modelled on medieval castles and was built with hand-mixed concrete and reinforcing iron pipe. The Mercer Museum has over 30,000 artifacts displayed in an open well with a continuous balcony, and it was dedicated on June 17, 1916. The tile works is a U-shaped building with an arcaded courtyard, and it produced handcrafted decorative tiles that Mercer sold widely. Mercer is regarded as one of the first designers to use reinforced concrete in American buildings, and as a collector of early American tools and folk art. The sites are treated together because Mercer conceived them as one body of work.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues that Mercer was a pioneer in using reinforced concrete as a building material, and that his three concrete buildings are innovative works of architecture. It also cites his decorative tiles, which brought him wide fame, and his collections of tools, folk art and books, which the museum houses. The three sites are treated as one district because they are linked through Mercer's work.
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 85002366, listed February 4, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Court St. and Swamp Rd. and Pine and Ashland Sts., Doylestown |
|---|---|
| County | Bucks County |
| Listed | February 4, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85002366 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1907-1916 |
| Architect / builder | Henry C. Mercer |
| Areas of significance | Industry, Art, Architecture |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated February 4, 1985 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The tile works remains in operation as a manufactory of architectural tile, and the museum is maintained by the county. The nomination also describes deterioration and a planned restoration project. |
| Coordinates | 40.30847, -75.12565 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 85002366.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5465188
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.