Meredith, Stephen, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1844 in the temple form, this two-story stone house in South Coventry Township, Chester County, sits on a knoll above Pughtown, approached by a winding drive over a stone arch bridge. Its gable-end entrance faces south beneath a one-story Doric porch raised on a high podium, with a triangular pediment at each gable. Inside, a side-hall plan includes high ceilings, deep window reveals and ornate plaster ceiling medallions with egg-and-dart detail. The house was built for Dr. Stephen Meredith, a physician and Chester County Republican who served in the state legislature in 1867 and 1868. It is regarded as the only Greek Revival temple-form house in the township and the surrounding area, and its plaster work and interior finish are rarely found in local country homes. The stone barn dates in part to about 1780 to 1790, and a one-story stone kitchen addition was built on the east side. The property has retained its integrity, with the main house little changed apart from that addition.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is the only Greek Revival temple-form house in South Coventry Township and the surrounding area. It cites its Doric entrance porch on a high podium, its ornamental plaster work and interior detailing, and its largely unchanged form as reasons it is important to local architecture. It also links the house to its first owner, a doctor and Chester County political figure.
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 93000355, listed April 29, 1993. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | PA 100 halfway between Bucktown and Pughtown, South Coventry Township, Bucktown |
|---|---|
| County | Chester County |
| Listed | April 29, 1993 |
| Reference number | 93000355 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1844 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied as a farm property with a gazebo, pond and barn; the document notes encroaching commercial development on the north and west sides. |
| Acreage | 10 |
| Coordinates | 40.17158, -75.66118 (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 93000355.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q17021504
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.