Pennock, Martha, House
Why it's listed
Built in the Federal style of stone with stucco facades, this two-story mansion stands on a site beside Buck Run in East Fallowfield Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania. It was completed about 1825 by Martha Pennock, widow of Isaac Pennock, whose Federal slitting mill on the stream had been rebuilt after his death and named Rokeby Iron Works. The house has an asphalt shingled gable roof, lipped chimneys at both gable ends, pedimented dormers, a box cornice, and a transom-lit central entrance. Nearby, a tenant house and a c1840 Greek Revival building complete the grouping. The property is significant for its link to the iron and paper industries that brought prosperity to the township in the nineteenth century. Later the Broomell family converted the complex to a paper mill, which operated until a fire in 1901. Its architectural integrity has been maintained by successive owners.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the mansion is the township's earliest and best surviving component of an industrial complex tied to the iron and paper industries. It is regarded as a departure from the township's predominant vernacular style, reflecting the wealth of the Pennock family. Its Federal detailing is described as compatible with houses built at the same time along the Philadelphia and Lancaster Turnpike.
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 85001149, listed May 20, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | PA 82, East Fallowfield Township, Coatesville |
|---|---|
| County | Chester County |
| Listed | May 20, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85001149 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1820-1860 |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Acreage | 2.8 |
| Coordinates | 39.93304, -75.83224 (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 85001149.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6774514
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.