Dawesfield
Why it's listed
Dawesfield is a gentleman's farm on Lewis Lane in Whitpain Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. Its main dwelling was begun about 1736 by Abraham Dawes, a Welsh Quaker family that settled the area early in the 18th century, and it grew through additions in 1745, 1785, 1821 and the later 19th century into a T-shaped stone house. The complex includes a stone barn dated 1795, a stone tenant house of 1845, a farm manager's house of 1884, and several outbuildings set within terraced lawns, stone walls and mature oak, beech and tulip poplar trees. The property is regarded as a fine example of a country estate where owners pursued city careers while devoting attention to house and grounds. General Washington used the north parlor as his office when he headquartered at Dawesfield in the fall of 1777, following the Battle of Germantown. The estate also illustrates the changes made by owners including Saunders Lewis and later the Cheston family, who carried the property through the twentieth century.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues that Dawesfield is a historically and architecturally important example of a Philadelphia-region gentleman's farm, with a landscaped setting and buildings reflecting successive generations of owners. It was associated with the American Revolution, serving as General Washington's headquarters after the Battle of Germantown. The nomination notes its Colonial Revival appearance is largely the product of later transformations.
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 91000318, listed March 29, 1991. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 565 Lewis Ln., Whitpain Township, Ambler |
|---|---|
| County | Montgomery County |
| Listed | March 29, 1991 |
| Reference number | 91000318 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1736-1940 |
| Architect / builder | Willing, Charles (architect, possibly involved in some or all of the 1954 work; the form notes his role merits further inquiry) |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Acreage | 11.2 |
| Coordinates | 40.15385, -75.24722 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 91000318.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5242316
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.