London Town Publik House facts for kids
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William Brown House
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William Brown House, South and West Facades, July 2013
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 Location in Maryland
Location in the United States
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| Location | Historic London Town and Gardens, Woodland Beach, Maryland |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1745 |
| Architectural style | Georgian |
| NRHP reference No. | 70000262 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | April 15, 1970 |
| Designated NHL | April 15, 1970 |
The William Brown House, also known as the London Town Publik House, is a really old building in Woodland Beach, Maryland. It's part of the Historic London Town and Gardens museum. This house was finished in 1764 and is one of the best examples of a brick tavern from the colonial times. A tavern was like a hotel and restaurant back then. For a long time, from 1828 to 1965, it was used as a place for people who needed help, called an alms house. In 1970, it was recognized as a very important historical site, becoming a National Historic Landmark.
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What Does the William Brown House Look Like?
The William Brown House is found near the Woodland Beach area in Edgewater, Maryland. It sits at the end of Londontown Road, right on the south side of the South River. It's about four miles from Annapolis. Today, Woodland Beach is also known as Londontowne.
Outside the House
The William Brown House is a two-story building made of brick. It has a raised basement. The front of the house is very wide, with seven sections of windows and doors. The sides are three sections deep.
The roof is shaped like a pyramid, but the very top is flat, creating a deck or terrace. There's a huge chimney at each end of the roof. The windows on the front of the house have flat brick arches above them. Windows on the back and sides have rounded arches.
Most windows on the first floor have nine small glass panes on the top and nine on the bottom. On the second floor, they have nine panes on top and six on the bottom. In the middle of the front, there's a part that sticks out with three sections. This part has a triangular roof shape (called a pediment) and holds the main entrance. You reach it by climbing brick and stone steps.
A special thing about this house is how the bricks are laid. All four sides use a pattern called "header-bond." This means you only see the short ends of the bricks, making the walls look very strong and uniform.
Inside the House
When you go inside, there's a wide hallway that runs from the front of the house all the way to the back. In the middle, smaller hallways branch off to doors on the sides of the house.
The back part of the main hallway has a fireplace and was used as a living area. The front part of the hallway is where the stairs are located. There are four rooms, all the same size, located in the corners created by the hallway layout. You can find doors on all four sides of the house.
A Peek into the Past: The House's Story
William Brown built the William Brown House between 1758 and 1764. It was located on a very important road that connected Williamsburg, Virginia to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. At this spot, people used a ferry to cross the South River, and William Brown also owned this ferry.
The house was part of a small community with about 100 land plots. The William Brown House is the only large building from that community that is still standing today. Building such a grand house was very expensive for William Brown. He ended up owing a lot of money. Because of his debts, he had to give the house and property to the estate of James Dick, who had lent him money for the house and land.
Later, in 1828, the local county bought the house. They used it as a "poorhouse" until 1965. A poorhouse, or alms house, was a place where people who were struggling financially or had no home could live and receive care. Today, the house is a museum. The London Town Foundation takes care of it and runs it for visitors.
See also
- Upton Scott House in Annapolis, also built by Brown, which closely resembles this building
- List of National Historic Landmarks in Maryland
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Anne Arundel County, Maryland
Gallery
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Almshouse at London Town, London Town Road, South River vicinity (Anne Arundel County, Maryland), November 1936
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William Brown House, East Facade, July 2009
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William Brown House, North Facade, July 2009 (View from Dock)
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