West Whiteland Inn
Why it's listed
Built in the eighteenth century as a three-bay, two-story stone farmhouse for tenants on the 540-acre Jehu Roberts farm, this house along the Lancaster Turnpike was enlarged about 1825 with a two-and-one-half story double-pile stone addition in the side hall plan. The original core retains a cooking fireplace, a winding stair and a summer kitchen with a bake oven and brick floor. The addition has a wide hall, open stairway, paneled reveals and a fluted architrave. In 1826 John Roberts and David Malin petitioned for a tavern license, and the house was licensed under the name West Whiteland Inn until 1837. The building is significant as an example of early nineteenth-century remodeling of older houses and for its tie to the turnpike trade. Its stone stable, built about 1835, is included in the property.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building illustrates the re-building of eighteenth-century houses in the early nineteenth century, with a side hall addition of about 1825 to an earlier hall-parlor core. It also argues the property is significant for its association with the Lancaster Turnpike, since its location led to its use as a tavern from 1826 to 1837 under the name West Whiteland Inn.
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 84003313, listed August 2, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 609 W. Lincoln Hwy., Exton |
|---|---|
| County | Chester County |
| Listed | August 2, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84003313 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1700-1799 |
| Architectural style | Georgian |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Converted to commercial use; the stone stable has been converted into a workshop/office. |
| Acreage | 2.8 |
| Coordinates | 40.02248, -75.66129 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
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 84003313.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7986990
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.