Hibernia 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
Stone construction began in the late 18th century on this site in Wagontown, Chester County, when an ironmaster's house was completed in 1798 with a stone kitchen addition and a large fireplace. A central mansion section was built around 1821 after Charles Brooke purchased the property, featuring a longitudinal front hall and a central chimney with two fireplaces on each floor. Between 1895 and 1910, Franklin Swayne added a heavily pedimented pavilion, a stone ballroom wing, quarter-round connecting additions, and a double-gabled service ell. The nomination regards the main section's floor plan, high ceilings and spacious rooms as unusual for the area. Swayne's additions are described as imitating early English design, and the front facade blends Palladian and neo-Greek features, giving the house its distinctive character.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is significant for its distinct and unusual architectural character, which combines designs from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries into a balanced, continuous structure. Its central main section has a floor plan with a longitudinal front hall and central chimney that the nomination says is not typical of the area. The Swayne alterations are described as imitating early English design, and the front facade is described as a combination of Palladian and neo-Greek features.
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 75001632, listed November 20, 1975. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | N of Wagontown off PA 340, Wagontown |
|---|---|
| County | Chester County |
| Listed | November 20, 1975 |
| Reference number | 75001632 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Georgian-Federal interior woodwork; Palladian and neo-Greek front facade features; alterations imitative of early English design |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The building is shown with a stuccoed exterior and metal roof over most sections; the west ell is used as the residence of the Park superintendent. |
| Acreage | 9 |
| Within district | Hatfield-Hibernia Historic District |
| Coordinates | 40.02932, -75.84208 (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 75001632.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5750717
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.