Fonthill (house) facts for kids
|
Fonthill Castle
|
|
|
U.S. National Historic Landmark District
Contributing Property |
|
 |
|
 Location in Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | Doylestown, Pennsylvania |
|---|---|
| Built | 1908 |
| Architect | Dr. Henry C. Mercer |
| Architectural style | Mixed (more Than 2 Styles From Different Periods) |
| Part of | Fonthill Castle, Mercer Museum, and Moravian Pottery and Tile Works (ID85002366) |
| NRHP reference No. | 72001094 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
|
| Added to NRHP | June 1, 1972 |
| Designated NHLDCP | February 4, 1985 |
Fonthill, also known as Fonthill Castle, was the amazing home of Henry Chapman Mercer. He was an American archaeologist and a skilled tile maker. His unique castle is located in Doylestown, Pennsylvania.
Contents
Building a Concrete Castle
Fonthill Castle was built between 1908 and 1912. It's a special example of a building made from "poured-in-place concrete." This means the concrete was poured into molds right on the building site.
The castle has 44 rooms and over 200 windows. It also features 18 fireplaces and 10 bathrooms. Imagine living in a house with so many unique spaces!
Inside Fonthill Castle
The inside of Fonthill Castle is just as interesting as its outside. It has furniture built right into the walls. The castle is also decorated with beautiful tiles. These tiles were made by Mercer himself. He created them during the time of the Arts and Crafts movement. This movement focused on handmade items and traditional crafts.
Mercer was a world traveler and a collector. He filled his home with many treasures. You can find collections of ceramics embedded in the concrete walls. There are also ancient artifacts from his travels. These include cuneiform tablets from Mesopotamia. These tablets are over 4,300 years old! The castle also holds about 1,000 prints and over 6,000 books. Mercer even wrote notes in almost all of his books.
A Historic Landmark
Fonthill Castle is a very important historical site. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. Later, it became part of a special area called a National Historic Landmark District. This district also includes the Moravian Pottery and Tile Works and the Mercer Museum.
These three buildings are the only ones Mercer built using poured concrete. The Moravian Pottery and Tile Works is right next to Fonthill Castle. The Mercer Museum is about a mile away.
Today, the Bucks County Historical Society takes care of Fonthill Castle and the Mercer Museum. The County of Bucks manages the Moravian Pottery and Tile Works.
Visiting Fonthill Castle
You can visit Fonthill Castle for guided tours. These tours usually last about an hour. Because it's an old and unique building, some areas have steep stairs. There are also narrow and uneven paths. This means it might be a bit tricky for some visitors to get around.
You are allowed to take personal photos during your tour. If you want to take pictures for commercial reasons, you need a special permit.
Fun Events at the Castle
Fonthill Castle hosts many fun community programs throughout the year. These events help people learn more about history. They also help raise money for the Bucks County Historical Society.
Past events have included special Winter Wonderland Tours. There have also been Candlelight Holiday Tours. Other popular events are Tower Tours for Families and Escape Rooms. These activities make visiting the castle even more exciting!
See Also
- Fonthill Abbey – a famous, but now demolished, house in England
