Southwark District
Also known as: See Also:Gloria Dei (Old Swedes') Church National Historic S
The pin is a point inside the NPS boundary polygon, not a surveyed location.
Why it's listed
Southwark is a waterfront district along the Delaware River in Philadelphia, containing about 600 eighteenth and nineteenth century commercial, residential and religious buildings. Its houses are mostly handmade brick with Flemish bond facades, steep or broken gable roofs, and wood trim matching those of Society Hill to the north. Gloria Dei, also called Old Swedes Church, was begun in 1700 and is the oldest church in Philadelphia. The Sparks' Shot Tower, built in 1808, was among the first of its kind in the United States and supplied shot for the government during the War of 1812. Because the area stayed residential and its buildings were seldom remodeled, it keeps much of its eighteenth century character. Its mariners, shipwrights and ropemakers link it closely to the river trade that shaped the city's early growth.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues that Southwark was the center of Philadelphia maritime activity through the eighteenth century and housed mariners, sea captains and river-related tradesmen. Its character remained relatively constant over the centuries because it stayed residential, so many old houses endured with fewer major changes than in other parts of the city. The district is also valued for its handmade brick houses, Flemish bond facades, and key buildings such as Gloria Dei (Old Swedes) Church and the Sparks' Shot Tower.
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 72001172, listed May 19, 1972. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Bounded by Delaware, Washington Aves., 5th, Lombard, Front, and Catherine Sts., Philadelphia |
|---|---|
| County | Philadelphia |
| Listed | May 19, 1972 |
| Reference number | 72001172 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 18th-19th century |
| Architectural style | Anglo-Flemish influence; Flemish bond brick architecture |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Many well preserved structures were being restored or rehabilitated in preparation for the Bicentennial; the 1976 correspondence reports one district house was altered beyond its qualifying character and removed, and a Register building at 34 South Third Street was demolished. |
| Acreage | 125 |
| Coordinates | 39.93905, -75.14743 (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 72001172.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7571113
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.