Cox, Hewson, House
Also known as: Kate Mansion-Snedesford
Why it's listed
Built beginning in 1854 on a 312-acre tract in the Great Valley, this two-story stuccoed stone mansion in the Cottage Style was begun by Hewson Cox, who died in 1859. The house has a cross-shaped core, steeply pitched gables with lancet windows, and diamond-paned windows, and it was regarded as a mansion from the start. In 1904 Clarence Sears Kates bought the estate and commissioned Milton Medary to renovate it, adding a Tudor-style library and music room with a balcony for an organ, stained glass, and gothic vaults. The original core was left largely intact. The house is significant as an early example of Gothic Revival design in the region, shaped by Downing's published designs. Kates later helped establish Church Farm School, a farm and trade school for orphaned boys, and the property was bought by the school in the 1950s.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is an excellent example of mid-nineteenth century Gothic Revival domestic design, inspired by the designs of Andrew Jackson Downing, and an early introduction of Gothic Revival elements into the Great Valley. Its 1904 alterations, in the Tudor or Baronial Manor style, are described as not obscuring the original design.
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 84003188, listed August 2, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Church Farm Rd., West Whiteland |
|---|---|
| County | Chester County |
| Listed | August 2, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84003188 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1840-1859 |
| Architect / builder | Milton Medary (architect, for the 1904 renovation) |
| Architectural style | Rural Gothic / Cottage Style |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Church Farm School owns the property and the house now serves as a dormitory. |
| Acreage | 7.3 |
| Coordinates | 40.04765, -75.60619 (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 84003188.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5748572
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.