Fox Chase Inn
Why it's listed
Built about 1765 as a two-story stone house on the Penn Plan, a double-pile layout common in 18th-century Philadelphia and its surroundings, the farmhouse stands on Swedesford Road in West Whiteland Township. Its first owner, John Quinn, a weaver, received the township's first tavern license in 1786, and the house operated as the Fox Chase Inn until his death in 1793. Later, a wing was added and the roof raised to two stories, and in the 19th century the facade was given two balanced entrances, a treatment known as double-door Georgian. The 4 1/4-acre parcel remained a small farm, and the complex was arranged in a linear layout within those bounds. The property was listed for its architectural value as an example of the Penn Plan and its alterations, and for its place in the township's early tavern and farming history.
Significance in brief: The inn is argued to be significant as one of the few examples of the Penn Plan in West Whiteland Township and as an illustration of how the original plan was altered to make the house more modern over its lifetime. Its history as the township's first licensed public house, and its status as the township's best example of the double-door Georgian treatment, are also cited.
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 84003253, listed September 6, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 613 Swedesford Rd., West Whiteland |
|---|---|
| County | Chester County |
| Listed | September 6, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84003253 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1700-1799 |
| Architectural style | Penn Plan; Double Door Georgian |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Residence-farm in present use according to the survey form; the outbuildings and barn are described as part of the complex. |
| Acreage | 4.3 |
| Coordinates | 40.03832, -75.61444 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
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 84003253.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5476639
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.