Pennsbury Manor -- National Register of Historic Places Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor Travel Itinerary

Pennsbury Manor and gardens
Photographs courtesy of Pennsbury Manor

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Historic image of William Penn
Image courtesy of Pennsbury Manor

Pennsbury Manor was the home of William Penn (1644-1718), proprietor of three colonies, founder of colonial Pennsylvania, and planner of the city of Philadelphia. The original manor house, constructed between 1682 and 84, fell into ruin after the Penns returned to England in 1707. Reconstruction efforts were begun in 1932 when the the Charles Warner Company gave10 acres, including the area of the house, to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as a memorial to William Penn. Between 1933 and 1942 the Pennsylvania Historical Commission reconstructed the plantation, including the Manor House, the outbuildings, and the landscape. Pennsbury Manor reopened as a formal estate in 1939. The present Pennsbury Manor is a brick, two and one-half story house built in the William and Mary Style. No drawings or paintings of the original Manor exist and only speculation, a few archaeological remains, and details from letters to James Harrison from Penn provide information about the original home. Some of the buildings at the site are conjectural, but are intended to represent the home of an English gentleman of the 17th century. Gardens with native and foreign plants have been planted in a 17th-century period manner. The site is administered by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission and is open to the public.

Pennsbury Manor is located at 400 Pennsbury Memorial Rd., Morrisville. Pennsbury is open 9:00am to 5:00pm Tuesday-Saturday and 12:00pm to 5:00pm on Sunday. There is a fee. Call 215-946-0400 or visit the website for further information or group reservations. Pennsbury Manor is administered by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission with assistance from the Pennsbury Society, a non-profit organization.

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