Pennypacker, Benjamin, House
Why it's listed
Built in the 1840s by Benjamin Pennypacker on Swedesford Road in West Whiteland Township, this two-and-a-half-story stuccoed stone farmhouse follows a four-room center-hall plan, with a fireplace in every room on both main levels. Its Federal-style semicircular fanlight over the centered entrance is its main decorative feature. The house adhered to conservative forms when Greek Revival and early Victorian styles were spreading in cities, and it shows the persistence of older vernacular traditions. Its basement kitchen holds a large cooking fireplace and two bake ovens that appear intact, a feature considered unusual in the township and rare in the county. Apart from a three-sided porch and a few partitions, the interior has changed little. Church Farm School, founded in 1918, acquired the property early and used it as its farm manager's residence. Howard Avil held that post from 1922 to 1937.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues that the house preserves traditional Georgian center-hall planning well into the nineteenth century, with Federal-style decorative elements that show conservative building practice in a rural area. Its largely unaltered interior, including a basement kitchen with two bake ovens, is described as unusual in the township and rare in the county. Its association with Church Farm School's agricultural operations is also noted.
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 84003298, listed August 2, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 800 E. Swedesford Rd., West Whiteland |
|---|---|
| County | Chester County |
| Listed | August 2, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84003298 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1840-1859 |
| Architect / builder | Benjamin Pennypacker (builder) |
| Architectural style | Federal/transitional |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as a faculty-related farmhouse by Church Farm School, with most of the school's other farms used as faculty residences and dormitories. |
| Acreage | 1.7 |
| Coordinates | 40.04081, -75.60356 (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 84003298.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4889109
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.