Meredith, Simon, House
Why it's listed
Built by Simon Meredith in the early eighteenth century, this stone house in Coventry Township is among the oldest surviving structures in northern Chester County. Its original west wing is random fieldstone, later covered with stucco, and it was joined on the east by a larger Federal-period addition of two and a half stories with a gable roof and an entrance placed in the gable end, an unusual choice for the area. Meredith, born about 1663, came from Radnorshire, Wales, around 1708 and acquired 300 acres along French Creek. He was taxed in 1720 and elected to the Provincial Assembly in 1727. His son Hugh worked with Benjamin Franklin at a Philadelphia printing house and later formed a partnership with Franklin, which Simon financed with 100 pounds. The house is significant for its early construction date, its architecture, and its connection to these early Pennsylvania settlers.
Significance in brief: The house is described as one of the oldest structures in northern Chester County. The nomination ties it to Simon Meredith, an early settler and member of the Provincial Assembly, and to his son Hugh's partnership with Benjamin Franklin in a Philadelphia printing shop. The Federal addition adds architectural interest for the area.
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 74001772, listed December 16, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 0.5 mi. W of Pughtown on Pughtown Rd., Pughtown |
|---|---|
| County | Chester County |
| Listed | December 16, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74001772 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 18th Century |
| Architect / builder | Simon Meredith (builder) |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 40.17005, -75.67703 (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 74001772.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7519341
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.