Palmer, Amos, House
Why it's listed
Built around 1760 for Amos Palmer, the brick section of this farmhouse in Lower Makefield Township is laid in Flemish bond on its front and rear walls, with English bond on the gable ends. The brickwork has never been painted and retains its original pointing. A plaster cove cornice runs across the pedimented gables, and the entrances carry a raised brick label that the nomination links to earlier English Tudor practice. The house is a double pile plan with two rooms on each floor and no separate stair hall, a layout the nomination calls unusual for mid-18th-century Bucks County. The north facade was the formal entrance into the parlor, while the south room served as the hall. A stone addition of about 1810 and later kitchen and frame additions reflect the needs of farm households. Amos Palmer's 1770 estate inventory documents the brick section and supports the dating. The property is regarded as one of the best preserved pre-Revolutionary brick houses in lower Bucks County.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is significant for its quality brickwork, including Flemish and English bond with glazed headers, a raised label beltcourse and a plaster cove cornice, which are rare for 18th-century Bucks County. Its formal north facade and double pile plan without a separate stair hall are presented as unusual for the region. It is also described as one of the best preserved documented pre-Revolutionary brick houses in lower Bucks County.
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 88002661, listed November 18, 1988. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Township Line Rd., Langhorne |
|---|---|
| County | Bucks County |
| Listed | November 18, 1988 |
| Reference number | 88002661 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | C. 1760 |
| Architectural style | Georgian |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The house is described as basically in good condition, although considerably altered inside, and it sits at its original construction site. |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Coordinates | 40.21225, -74.88104 (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 88002661.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4747934
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.