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Fonthill (house)
Encyclopedia
Fonthill was the home of the American archeologist and tile maker Henry Chapman Mercer
, in Doylestown, Pennsylvania
. Built between 1908 and 1912, it is an early example of poured-in-place concrete
and features 44 rooms, over 200 windows, 18 fireplaces and 10 bathrooms. The interior was originally painted in various pastel colors, but age and sunlight have all but eradicated any hint of the former hues. It contains much built-in furniture and is embellished with decorative tiles that Mercer made at the height of the Arts and Crafts movement
. It is filled with an extensive collection of ceramics embedded in the concrete of the house, as well as other artifacts from his world travels, including cuneiform
tablets discovered in Mesopotamia
dating back to over 2300 BCE. The home also contains around 1,000 prints from Mercer's extensive collection, as well as over six thousand books, almost all of which were annotated by Mercer himself.
The home was individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1972, and was later included in a National Historic Landmark District along with the Moravian Pottery and Tile Works
and the Mercer Museum
. These three structures are the only poured-in-place concrete
structures built by Mercer. The Moravian Pottery and Tile Works
is located on the same property as Fontill, and the Mercer Museum
is located approximately one mile away. Water and pollution have caused damage to all of the structures, none more so than at Fonthill, where replacement of damaged windowsills is almost an annual event.
It has also been long rumored that the ghost of Henry Chapman Mercer
's housekeeper still haunts the Fonthill castle, making it one of Doylestown, PA's prime supernatural hotspots.
's 1990 novel Slam, although in the book it has been relocated to Galveston, Texas
.
On the Viva La Bam
Seasons 2 & 3 DVD, it is revealed that Bam
shot the video for "And Love Said No" by HIM at Fonthill Mansion. In 2007, Bam Margera filmed parts of Minghags at the Fonthill Mansion.
Henry Chapman Mercer
Henry Chapman Mercer was an American archeologist, artifact collector, tile-maker and designer of three distinctive poured concrete structures: Fonthill, his home, the Moravian Pottery and Tile Works, and the Mercer Museum.-Early life and education:Henry Mercer was born in Doylestown,...
, in Doylestown, Pennsylvania
Doylestown, Pennsylvania
Doylestown is a borough in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, north of Philadelphia. As of the 2010 census, the borough population was 8,380. The borough is the county seat of Bucks County.- History :...
. Built between 1908 and 1912, it is an early example of poured-in-place concrete
Concrete
Concrete is a composite construction material, composed of cement and other cementitious materials such as fly ash and slag cement, aggregate , water and chemical admixtures.The word concrete comes from the Latin word...
and features 44 rooms, over 200 windows, 18 fireplaces and 10 bathrooms. The interior was originally painted in various pastel colors, but age and sunlight have all but eradicated any hint of the former hues. It contains much built-in furniture and is embellished with decorative tiles that Mercer made at the height of the Arts and Crafts movement
Arts and Crafts movement
Arts and Crafts was an international design philosophy that originated in England and flourished between 1860 and 1910 , continuing its influence until the 1930s...
. It is filled with an extensive collection of ceramics embedded in the concrete of the house, as well as other artifacts from his world travels, including cuneiform
Cuneiform
Cuneiform can refer to:*Cuneiform script, an ancient writing system originating in Mesopotamia in the 4th millennium BC*Cuneiform , three bones in the human foot*Cuneiform Records, a music record label...
tablets discovered in Mesopotamia
Mesopotamia
Mesopotamia is a toponym for the area of the Tigris–Euphrates river system, largely corresponding to modern-day Iraq, northeastern Syria, southeastern Turkey and southwestern Iran.Widely considered to be the cradle of civilization, Bronze Age Mesopotamia included Sumer and the...
dating back to over 2300 BCE. The home also contains around 1,000 prints from Mercer's extensive collection, as well as over six thousand books, almost all of which were annotated by Mercer himself.
The home was individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1972, and was later included in a National Historic Landmark District along with the Moravian Pottery and Tile Works
Moravian Pottery and Tile Works
The Moravian Pottery & Tile Works is a history museum located in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. It is maintained by the County of Bucks, Department of Parks and Recreation. The museum was individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972, and was later included in a National...
and the Mercer Museum
Mercer Museum
The Mercer Museum is a museum located in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, United States, a suburb of Philadelphia. The Bucks County Historical Society operates the museum, as well as the Spruance Library and Fonthill, former home of the museum's founder, archeologist Henry Chapman Mercer...
. These three structures are the only poured-in-place concrete
Concrete
Concrete is a composite construction material, composed of cement and other cementitious materials such as fly ash and slag cement, aggregate , water and chemical admixtures.The word concrete comes from the Latin word...
structures built by Mercer. The Moravian Pottery and Tile Works
Moravian Pottery and Tile Works
The Moravian Pottery & Tile Works is a history museum located in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. It is maintained by the County of Bucks, Department of Parks and Recreation. The museum was individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972, and was later included in a National...
is located on the same property as Fontill, and the Mercer Museum
Mercer Museum
The Mercer Museum is a museum located in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, United States, a suburb of Philadelphia. The Bucks County Historical Society operates the museum, as well as the Spruance Library and Fonthill, former home of the museum's founder, archeologist Henry Chapman Mercer...
is located approximately one mile away. Water and pollution have caused damage to all of the structures, none more so than at Fonthill, where replacement of damaged windowsills is almost an annual event.
Myths and Mischief
The area containing Fonthill and its adjoining woods, listed on neighborhoodscout.com as "N St/East St," has the highest crime rate in all of Doylestown, at a safety rating of 52, 100 being the safest. This is because it is illegal to trespass on Fonthill property after dark, though its copious expanse of woods and hiding places make it ideal for vagrants seeking refuge and minors wishing to partake mischief.It has also been long rumored that the ghost of Henry Chapman Mercer
Henry Chapman Mercer
Henry Chapman Mercer was an American archeologist, artifact collector, tile-maker and designer of three distinctive poured concrete structures: Fonthill, his home, the Moravian Pottery and Tile Works, and the Mercer Museum.-Early life and education:Henry Mercer was born in Doylestown,...
's housekeeper still haunts the Fonthill castle, making it one of Doylestown, PA's prime supernatural hotspots.
Use in popular culture
The house features (by name and description) in Lewis ShinerLewis Shiner
Lewis Shiner is an American writer.Shiner began his career as a science fiction writer, identified early on with cyberpunk, and later wrote more mainstream novels, albeit often with magical realism and fantasy elements...
's 1990 novel Slam, although in the book it has been relocated to Galveston, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
.
On the Viva La Bam
Viva La Bam
Viva La Bam is an American reality television series that stars Bam Margera and his friends and family. The show was a spin-off from MTV's Jackass, in which Margera and most of the main cast had appeared...
Seasons 2 & 3 DVD, it is revealed that Bam
Bam Margera
Brandon Cole "Bam" Margera is an American professional skateboarder, television and radio personality, actor and daredevil. He released a series of videos under the CKY banner and came to prominence after being drafted into MTV's Jackass crew...
shot the video for "And Love Said No" by HIM at Fonthill Mansion. In 2007, Bam Margera filmed parts of Minghags at the Fonthill Mansion.