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Survey of
Historic Sites and Buildings

	COOCH'S BRIDGE Delaware
Location: Christiana Creek, 2 miles southeast of Newark and 1 mile east of Del. 896, New Castle County.

About 700 American troops under Gen. William Maxwell ambushed a part of the British Army advancing against Philadelphia and a sharp little battle occurred here on September 3, 1777. The redcoats gradually forced the Continentals back and, when their units became disorganized, Maxwell's men fled to rejoin the main part of their army. This was the only Revolutionary War action in Delaware. Although the Americans lost the skirmish, the British victory had little effect on the campaign against Philadelphia. Cooch House stands near the bridge and was occupied for a short time by the British general, Cornwallis. It was built in 1760 and is privately owned. Maxwell's skirmish is commemorated by a monument at the entrance to the Cooch House grounds.

	NEW CASTLE Delaware
Location: On the Delaware River 6 miles south of Wilmington, New Castle County. City of New Castle New Castle Historical Society

New Castle was founded in 1651 by Peter Stuyvesant as the seat of New Netherland government on the South (Delaware) River, the counterpart of New Amsterdam on the Hudson. It received its present name when seized by the British in 1664, after being called Fort Casimir and New Amstel by the Dutch, and Trinity by the Swedes who held it briefly. William Penn received the colony in 1682, and it was the place where he first set foot in America. It was the colonial capital and very briefly the State capital of Delaware.

Several important early structures are preserved in New Castle, including the brick State (Court) House, the center portion of which was built early in the 18th century, with subsequent additions over a period of 200 years; the Amstel House, built before 1730, home of the first Governor of Delaware, Nicholas Van Dyke; Immanuel Episcopal Church, built between 1703 and 1710; the Governor Gunning-Bedford House of about 1730; and the Presbyterian Church, built in 1707. New Castle's historic buildings collectively represent a broad span of occupation and will be examined in more detail as a historic district in the study dealing with architecture.

NHL Designation: 11/28/72