Sharpless Homestead
Also known as: Radley Farm
Why it's listed
Four serpentine stone buildings sit on a terraced, south-facing hillside east of Birmingham Road, about two miles south of West Chester. The house was built in stages, beginning with a section dated around 1790 and attributed to Joshua Sharpless, who bought the farm in 1784. An east section dates to about 1820 in the Late Federal style, and a northeast section is dated to 1831 by a datestone. In 1860, Aaron Sharpless rebuilt the west end in dressed serpentine stone with a hexagonal datestone and Greek Revival window muntins. The stone springhouse, smokehouse and stable are also part of the complex. The property is significant as a clear example of Chester County's serpentine stone vernacular tradition, showing the shift from rough rubble walls to finer dressed work. Its association with Quaker leaders, including Joshua Sharpless's work at Westtown School, adds to its importance.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the homestead clearly demonstrates the evolution of the vernacular serpentine stone building tradition in Chester County, moving from folk-style rubble masonry to more refined dressed stone. It also cites the complex's craftsmanship for the area and its association with the Sharpless and Davis families, including Quaker figures and events of the Battle of the Brandywine.
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 11000924, listed December 15, 2011. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1045 Birmingham Rd. (Birmingham Township), West Chester |
|---|---|
| County | Chester County |
| Listed | December 15, 2011 |
| Reference number | 11000924 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | C. 1790-1860 |
| Architectural style | Early Republic Federal; Late Federal (east section); Greek Revival detailing |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Acreage | 4.3 |
| Coordinates | 39.92092, -75.60546 (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 11000924.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7490408
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.