Bryn Athyn-Lower Moreland Bridge
Why it's listed
Carrying Byberry Road across Pennypack Creek between Bryn Athyn Borough and Lower Moreland Township, this two-span stone bridge is built of semi-coursed, roughly squared stones. Two plaques set in the parapet walls record construction in 1828 and 1858. Its semi-circular arches are unusually small, each spanning about 12 feet, and the overall structure measures 75 feet long by 25 feet wide. The bridge is regarded as a good example of nineteenth-century stone highway bridgework in Pennsylvania. Its small spans, rough-hewn masonry and well-preserved integrity make it representative of early and mid-nineteenth-century multi-span stone bridges within the group nominated under the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation highway bridge submission. The listing rests on engineering significance. The nominated area includes only the superstructure and substructure, bounded by the outside corners of the wing walls, and covers less than one acre.
Significance in brief: The nomination describes the bridge as a good example of a nineteenth century stone highway bridge in Pennsylvania. Its small semi-circular arches, roughly squared stonework and excellent integrity make it a fine example of early and mid-19th century multi-span stone bridges in the nominated group. The area of significance is engineering.
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 88000831, listed June 22, 1988. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Byberry Rd. over branch of Pennypack Creek, Lower Moreland |
|---|---|
| County | Montgomery County |
| Listed | June 22, 1988 |
| Reference number | 88000831 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1828-1858 |
| Architectural style | Semi-circular stone arch |
| Areas of significance | Engineering |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Repaired; altered in 1858 according to the integrity entry. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.15877, -75.07465 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
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 88000831.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4980830
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.