Reading Furnace Historic District
Also known as: Redding Furnace Farm
Why it's listed
Along the South Branch of French Creek in Warwick and East Nantmeal Townships, Chester County, the Reading Furnace Historic District grew from an iron furnace begun in 1736 under William Branson. The furnace operated until 1811, after which the site became a farm. The mansion was built in sections from 1744 to 1936. Its 1812 section holds finely fluted cornices, doorways and fireplace mantels by Gottlieb Drexel, a Berks County carpenter whose woodwork is rare in northern Chester County. In 1936 Arthur Pew bought the property and hired Richardson Brognard Okie, who remodeled the house, added a large three-block wing, and introduced Arts and Crafts woodwork. The estate is regarded as one of the largest country houses of its kind in the two townships. The district also includes a dam ruin, the furnace foundation, outbuildings and a stone arch bridge of 1904.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the district is locally important for architecture. Its 1812 mansion section contains exceptionally detailed woodwork by Gottlieb Drexel, and its 1936 remodeling and addition by Richardson Brognard Okie is regarded as a fine regional example of his Arts and Crafts work on Colonial buildings. It is also presented as one of the largest early twentieth century country estates converted from nineteenth century farmhouses.
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 87000797, listed July 30, 1987. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Mansion Rd., Warwick |
|---|---|
| County | Chester County |
| Listed | July 30, 1987 |
| Reference number | 87000797 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1736-1936 |
| Architect / builder | Gottlieb Drexel; R. Brognard Okie |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Acreage | 13.3 |
| Coordinates | 40.14691, -75.76865 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 87000797.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7300509
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.