Barley Sheaf Inn
Also known as: Barley Sheaf Farm
Why it's listed
Barley Sheaf is a two-and-a-half story fieldstone inn on the Germantown Turnpike at its junction with North Wales Road in Norristown. Robert Shannon began operating it as an inn after acquiring 200 acres of Norriton land from Isaac Norris in 1737. When Montgomery County was created by an act of September 10, 1784, the first court met on the premises, then licensed as the Barley Sheaf Hotel, because the county courthouse and jail were not yet built. The tavern also served travelers on the Great Road, hosted militia meetings, posted public notices and held elections. The Shannon family owned it until 1795. The building later became a private residence and then housed offices. Its original fieldstone barn, which was used as a jail, and its wagon shed remain part of the property.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the inn is significant as one of the early inns of colonial times and as the site of the first court and jail when Montgomery County was formed in 1784. It also cites its role as a meeting place for travelers, farmers and public business, and its long ownership by the Shannon family.
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 80003580, listed December 10, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | N of Norristown at 420 W. Germantown Pk., Norristown |
|---|---|
| County | Montgomery County |
| Listed | December 10, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80003580 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Areas of significance | Transportation, Politics/Government |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used to house professional offices, according to the document. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 40.14876, -75.33422 (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 80003580.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4861161
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.