Grange Estate
Encyclopedia
The Grange Estate, also known as Maen-Coch and Clifton Hall, is a historic mansion in Havertown, Pennsylvania
, near Philadelphia. Built in 1700 and expanded several times through the 1850s, it was purchased by Haverford Township in 1974. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places
in 1976 as The Grange.
The mansion is an example of the Gothic Revival style. The house is presented in the state it was in at the turn of the 20th century. The grounds also feature Victorian
gardens.
The house was owned by patriot and Philadelphia merchant John Ross
during the late 18th century, who gave his country estate its current name after the home of Lafayette. Ross's house was frequented by several notable historic figures including George Washington
and Lafayette.
In 1815, the house was purchased by Manuel Eyre, Jr., son of Washington aide Manuel Eyre
, who served with the General during the Revolution. The Eyre family would hold the estate for longer than any other, first from 1815 to 1846, and then, through their Ashhurst cousins, from 1848 to 1911.
The last family to occupy the mansion did so from 1913 until 1974, when it was sold to the Haverford Historical Society.
The mansion is now maintained as a museum and community center. Regular tours are available from April to October and during the December holidays.
Havertown, Pennsylvania
Havertown is a residential suburban unincorporated community in Haverford Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States, approximately 9 miles west of the center of Philadelphia. Havertown's ZIP Code is 19083. Havertown is notable for being the birthplace of Swell Bubble Gum, which closed...
, near Philadelphia. Built in 1700 and expanded several times through the 1850s, it was purchased by Haverford Township in 1974. The building was added to 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 1976 as The Grange.
The mansion is an example of the Gothic Revival style. The house is presented in the state it was in at the turn of the 20th century. The grounds also feature Victorian
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
gardens.
The house was owned by patriot and Philadelphia merchant John Ross
John Ross (American patriot)
John Ross was a merchant during the American Revolution.He early relocated to Perth, Scotland, and entered into mercantile pursuits, but in 1763 he came to Philadelphia, where he became a shipping merchant...
during the late 18th century, who gave his country estate its current name after the home of Lafayette. Ross's house was frequented by several notable historic figures including George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
and Lafayette.
In 1815, the house was purchased by Manuel Eyre, Jr., son of Washington aide Manuel Eyre
Manuel Eyre
Manuel Eyre was a colonel in the Continental Army, a shipbuilder, and the brother of Revolutionary War heroes Benjamin and Jehu Eyre....
, who served with the General during the Revolution. The Eyre family would hold the estate for longer than any other, first from 1815 to 1846, and then, through their Ashhurst cousins, from 1848 to 1911.
The last family to occupy the mansion did so from 1913 until 1974, when it was sold to the Haverford Historical Society.
The mansion is now maintained as a museum and community center. Regular tours are available from April to October and during the December holidays.
Further reading
- H.D. Eberlein and H.M. Lippincott, The Colonial Homes of Philadelphia and Its Neighbourhood, J.B. Lippincott Co., Phila. and London, 1912.
External links
- The Grange Estate
- Photograph (1897) at Bryn Mawr CollegeBryn Mawr CollegeBryn Mawr College is a women's liberal arts college located in Bryn Mawr, a community in Lower Merion Township, Pennsylvania, ten miles west of Philadelphia. The name "Bryn Mawr" means "big hill" in Welsh....
- Listing (under "Maen-Coch") and photographs at the Historic American Buildings SurveyHistoric American Buildings SurveyThe Historic American Buildings Survey , Historic American Engineering Record , and Historic American Landscapes Survey are programs of the National Park Service established for the purpose of documenting historic places. Records consists of measured drawings, archival photographs, and written...
