Harewood and Beechwood
Also known as: Woods Schools
Why it's listed
Two large estate houses in Langhorne, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, illustrate the mansion estates built in the area during the late 18th and 19th centuries. Harewood began as a small two-story farmhouse in the early 19th century on a 130-acre farmstead. In 1906 a five-story mansion with a broken-hipped cedar-shingled roof, sixteen fireplaces and a grand staircase was built around it, and the farmhouse survives as a rear wing. Its interior features numerous Henry Mercer tiles set around fireplaces and cornices, and the grounds include a tiled gazebo and a reflecting pool. Beechwood is a painted fieldstone house of two and one-half stories with a central foyer and much original woodwork. Its builder is not named in the nomination, but its Federal-era features are noted. Both houses passed to treatment programs for children in the twentieth century, and the nomination notes they had become obsolete for that use and were threatened by demolition.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues Harewood has an unusual development history and notable Chateauesque elements and Henry Mercer tile work throughout its interior. It describes Beechwood as a fine example of an early Bucks County mansion with many Federal features. Both were part of the late 18th and 19th century estate pattern of the Langhorne and Middletown Township area and were later used as residential treatment centers for children.
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 80003436, listed February 1, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | E of Langhorne off PA 213, Middletown Township, Langhorne |
|---|---|
| County | Bucks County |
| Listed | February 1, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80003436 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architectural style | Chateauesque (Harewood); Federal features (Beechwood) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Both structures are described as no longer used as treatment centers and threatened by demolition. |
| Acreage | 2.5 |
| Coordinates | 40.17859, -74.91199 (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 80003436.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5656960
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.