House at Springdell
Also known as: Site #48-1
Why it's listed
Stone-walled residence in the hamlet of Springdell, West Marlborough Township, Chester County, built in the 18th century in the two-story, double-pile Penn Plan. Its thick walls, gable-end fireplace, pegged frames and round-log basement joists are described as standard features of the period, and the basement kitchen survives. The house was once part of a tract that included a grist mill, and it is linked to James Fitzpatrick, a Revolutionary-era outlaw whom local historians tie to the house as his mother's home. Its plan has been changed little since the 18th century, and it is regarded as the only relatively intact survivor of that era in the West Branch Brandywine corridor. Later alterations include added water and electricity, a side window, an asphalt roof and a replacement porch, and the house is described as having retained its basic integrity despite them.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a nearly textbook example of the Penn Plan, an 18th-century vernacular type, and that it is the only relatively intact 18th-century survivor of its kind in the West Branch Brandywine corridor. It also links the house to local grist-milling and village history and to the outlaw James Fitzpatrick, whom local historians associate with it.
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 85002360, listed September 16, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Rt. 841, W. Marlborough Twp. |
|---|---|
| County | Chester County |
| Listed | September 16, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85002360 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1751-1799 |
| Architectural style | Penn Plan |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied as a residence; the basement kitchen is no longer used, and the fireplaces are sealed. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 39.90702, -75.83543 (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 85002360.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q15225999
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.