Makefield Meeting
Also known as: Makefield Monthly Meeting; Meeting House at Dolington
Why it's listed
Makefield Meeting is a two-story, gable-roofed meetinghouse of stucco-over-stone construction in Makefield Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. The property was granted in 1684 and donated by Thomas Harvey to Falls Meeting in 1752 for the purpose of building a meetinghouse. The original one-story stone building measured 25 by 30 feet; a second story was added and the structure enlarged in 1764. It was overhauled, plastered and re-roofed in 1851, when porticoes were added on the south and west. The interior is plain and functional, reflecting colonial life in the region. On the grounds stand a schoolmaster's house built in 1787 and sheds constructed ca. 1800 for worshippers who arrived on horseback. The meetinghouse is regarded as a good example of local vernacular architecture and as a reminder of early colonial culture in rural southeastern Pennsylvania. Many attendees were prominent in local political and economic affairs.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the meetinghouse has served the religious and cultural life of Makefield Township for over 220 years and is a good example of local vernacular architecture. It is described as an important reminder of early colonial culture in rural southeastern Pennsylvania, with the building substantially unchanged since its enlargement.
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 74001758, listed January 18, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | NE of Newtown at Mt. Eyre Rd. and Dolington Rd., Upper Makefield Township, Newtown |
|---|---|
| County | Bucks County |
| Listed | January 18, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74001758 |
| Resource type | Site |
| Period of significance | 1752 |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Religion |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The meetinghouse is in excellent condition and is in use as a meeting; the schoolmaster's house is used as a dwelling by the meeting's caretaker. |
| Acreage | 1.2 |
| Coordinates | 40.26605, -74.88671 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Sites (archaeological sites, battlefields, landscapes) are often listed with a restricted address to protect them from looting or disturbance. Listing is honorary for private owners; federal undertakings on or near the site go through Section 106 review, and state laws may protect burials and artefacts regardless of listing.
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 74001758.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6739230
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.