Kenderdine Mill Complex
Why it's listed
Fieldstone mill at the junction of Keith Valley and Davis Grove Roads in northwest Horsham Township, Montgomery County, built in 1734 and 1735 by Joseph Kenderdine, a millwright of the Richard Kenderdine family. The gable-roofed rubble stone mill was enlarged by a third story in the nineteenth century, when its roof pitch was also altered. Its interior retains massive hand-hewn oak framing, wooden cranes, a wooden sack and cask hoist, and a bolting machine dated to the 1840s. The complex includes a mill owner's house, a Kenderdine family house with early eighteenth-century sections, and an 1858 stone stable and carriage house. Once powered by a breast-shot water wheel, the mill operated until the early twentieth century and now lacks its wheel and belts. It is regarded as one of the last surviving mills of its kind in its township, valued for its early date, integrity and the roads that were opened to reach it.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the complex is a remarkably well preserved early industrial site on its original location, with original wooden machinery and a bolting machine dated to the 1840s. It is described as the last surviving mill of its kind in the township and as a reflection of the evolving fieldstone architecture of the region. It also helped prompt the opening of several local roads.
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 91002011, listed January 22, 1992. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Jct. of Keith Valley and Davis Grove Rds., Horsham |
|---|---|
| County | Montgomery County |
| Listed | January 22, 1992 |
| Reference number | 91002011 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1735-c.1900 |
| Architect / builder | Joseph Kenderdine (builder) |
| Architectural style | Postmedieval English Colonial; Federal |
| Areas of significance | Industry, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Operated by water power until the early twentieth century; lacks its water wheel and belts and is not currently operational. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 40.20885, -75.17037 (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 91002011.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6388974
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.