Hampton Hill
Also known as: Bennet-Search House
Why it's listed
Hampton Hill is a stone farmhouse in Richboro, Bucks County, made of two connected sections built about fifty years apart. The earlier section, a two-and-a-half-story gable house, dates to about 1744 and has a kitchen with a nine-foot fireplace and an original stone pantry sink. The larger western section, built about 1790, has three bays, two rooms on the ground floor and three upstairs, and a winding stair with a landing that joins the two parts. Its woodwork, paneling, raised-panel doors, mantels and hewn rafters are largely early or original. The house is known as the Bennet-Search House after the Benet family, who came from Long Island in the early to mid-eighteenth century. It is significant for its architecture, especially the stairway, and for preserving its original floor plans and interior woodwork through careful restoration. It is also part of a farm complex that includes a wagon shed, a cold vault and the remains of a wood shed.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house shows the combination of a Colonial and a post-Colonial structure into one dwelling and retains fine interior woodwork. Its winding stairway with landing is described as exceptionally fine and rare in rural architecture. The complex is presented as an early farm community centered on the Benet family, who moved from Long Island, New York in the early to mid-eighteenth century.
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 73001594, listed April 2, 1973. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1269 Second Street Pike, Northampton Township, Richboro |
|---|---|
| County | Bucks County |
| Listed | April 2, 1973 |
| Reference number | 73001594 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c. 1744 & c. 1790 |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Agriculture, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Restored with repointed stonework and new roofing on the exterior; the document describes the house as well preserved. |
| Acreage | 3.3 |
| Coordinates | 40.22367, -75.00913 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 73001594.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5646221
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.