Barns-Brinton House
Approximate location: the National Park Service places this pin arbitrarily within the property, not at a surveyed point (stated accuracy ±12 m).
Why it's listed
Built in the first quarter of the eighteenth century, the Barns-Brinton House is a brick dwelling in Hamorton, Chester County, Pennsylvania. Its walls are laid in Flemish bond with black headers, and lighter brick forms a double diamond pattern on the west gable. Surveys date its construction to before 1725, and an oval date stone reading 1776 is considered incorrect, likely a recut of an eroded 1726. Isaac Taylor surveyed the original 554-acre grant for Peter Dicks in 1702. William Barns, a blacksmith, acquired 104 acres and operated a tavern from 1722 until his death in 1731, with a brief license denial in 1728. The Brinton family held the farm until 1859. The house is significant for its well-preserved brickwork, much original interior woodwork, and tavern history. It also lay on the line of march of General Knyphausen toward the Battle of Brandywine in September 1777. The Chadds Ford Historical Society acquired the house and about an acre and a half in 1969.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is in a remarkable state of preservation and is an excellent example of Flemish bond brickwork in southeastern Pennsylvania. A great deal of its interior woodwork is original. Its tavern use and its location on the route of Knyphausen's march before the Battle of Brandywine add historical associations.
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 71000692, listed May 27, 1971. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | E of Hamorton on U.S. 1, Pennsbury Township, Hamorton |
|---|---|
| County | Chester County |
| Listed | May 27, 1971 |
| Reference number | 71000692 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | cu 1726 |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Altered exterior with replaced window frames and cornice and removed pent roof; Chadds Ford Historical Society purchased the house in 1969 and took steps to halt deterioration. |
| Acreage | 1.5 |
| Within district | Brandywine Battlefield |
| Coordinates | 39.87357, -75.62594 (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 71000692.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4861871
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.