Thompson Farm
Also known as: Pierson Farm
Why it's listed
Built in stages beginning in 1833 on a farm in southern Chester County near the Delaware and Maryland lines, the Thompson Farm includes a brick farmhouse, a large stone bank barn, and three frame outbuildings painted red. The house is two interlocking L-shaped sections, with the core built in 1833 and an addition dated 1857, marked by a lintel bearing the initials EMT for Ezra and Mary Thompson. The core has Flemish bond brick on the facade, a side hall double pile plan with corner fireplaces, and original six-panel doors with Dutch elbow locks. The barn measures about 80 by 80 feet and has unusual double pedimented doors. Its roof and frame are pegged, and the farmstead has no modern additions. The complex is regarded as an important survival of rural building in Chester County, with the house unusual for its period in brick construction and plan, and the barn unusually large for the area.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house and barn are important examples of rural building types that have survived with a high degree of integrity. The brick house is unusual for its period and local context in its brick construction and floor plan, and the barn is unusually large even by Chester County standards.
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 83002228, listed July 14, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 632 Chambers Rock Rd., London Britain Township, New London |
|---|---|
| County | Chester County |
| Listed | July 14, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83002228 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Ezra Thompson |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Unaltered, original site; no modern additions to the farmhouse or barn. |
| Acreage | 10 |
| Coordinates | 39.73170, -75.78220 (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 83002228.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7795728
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.