Newlin Mill Complex
Why it's listed
Begun in 1704 by Nathaniel Newlin, an Irish Quaker who had reached Pennsylvania in 1683, this complex in Concord Township near Concordville centres on a water-powered grist mill beside Chester Creek. A datestone in the wall carries the 1704 date and the initials of Newlin and his wife. Nearby stand a two and one-half story warehouse, a rubble-stone Miller's House dated to 1739, a Trimble House built in two sections, and a Spring House from 1740 that was moved to the site. A railroad station linked the mill to Philadelphia and Baltimore markets. The mill ran until 1940 and was restored about fifteen years later. It is valued for its architecture and for tracing milling and commerce across a century and a half in a region of early mills. Two trees on the grounds are said to date from William Penn's time. The land is a non-profit historic park open to visitors.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the complex is one of the earliest and best-preserved mills in Pennsylvania, with its mill dating to 1704 and its associated buildings showing mill and community development over about a century and a half. It also cites the links between the mill and the railroad, the early colonial family owners, and its relationship to the nearby Concordville Historic District.
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 83002240, listed March 9, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence low).
Key facts
| Address | S. Cheyney Rd., Glen Mills |
|---|---|
| County | Delaware County |
| Listed | March 9, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83002240 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1704-1870 |
| Architect / builder | Nathaniel Newlin (1665-1729) |
| Architectural style | Victorian pointed or Gothic style (railroad station); Delaware County eighteenth century architectural style (mill and houses) |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Mill operated until 1940, was restored about fifteen years later, and has since been part of a historic park; the mill grinds corn as a demonstration for visitors. |
| Acreage | 5 |
| Coordinates | 39.89037, -75.50578 (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 83002240.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q15262162
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.