Worth-Jefferis Rural Historic District
Also known as: See Also:Carter-Worth House and Farm
Why it's listed
Along the Brandywine Creek north of its juncture, the Worth/Jefferis Historic District covers about 1,800 acres of rolling farmland in East and West Bradford Townships, Chester County. It holds ten historic farms built around stone and frame Pennsylvania barns, stone farmhouses and tenant houses. The land was first surveyed for William Penn in 1686, and Thomas Worth bought 500 acres in 1707. Worth and Jefferis family descendants kept most of the land for more than two centuries, and the farm boundaries and hedgerows still follow those early property lines. The district's buildings reflect English Colonial, Georgian and Federal traditions. It is regarded as a clear record of how Chester County farming changed, from grain and subsistence crops through cattle fattening and dairying to today's horse farms. Its farmsteads remain largely intact, and noncontributing houses are mostly screened by hills and vegetation.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the district illustrates the settlement and agriculture of Chester County from the early eighteenth through the mid-twentieth century. Its land and farmsteads trace original William Penn 1686 survey lines and Worth and Jefferis family ownership over more than 200 years. Its farm buildings are described as largely intact examples of Colonial and National era rural architecture.
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 95000523, listed April 27, 1995. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Roughly, along Lucky Hill, N. Wawaset, Allerton and Creek Rds., East and West Bradford Townships, Marshallton |
|---|---|
| County | Chester County |
| Listed | April 27, 1995 |
| Reference number | 95000523 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1707-1943 |
| Architectural style | Colonial, Georgian, Colonial Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Agriculture, Architecture, Exploration/Settlement |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Farmland remains largely in agricultural use, with horse breeding and boarding on most farms; some land has been subdivided and developed. |
| Acreage | 1800 |
| Coordinates | 39.93763, -75.65565 (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 95000523.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q8037149
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.