Pennsbury Manor
The Manor House Pennsbury Manor is a reconstruction of William Penn’s home along the Delaware River. This is a reconstruction, based upon archaeological finds, written documents and research of the period. The original Manor House fell into disrepair and fell down in the 18th Century, what stands in its place now is a Colonial Revival reconstruction. Learn more about the Manor House below by watching the video and reading the descriptions!
Virtual Tour Guide
Entrance Hall Visitors would come into the Entrance Hall before they met with William Penn.The green tiles on this fireplace hearth in the Porch were uncovered by archaeologists during the reconstruction of Pennsbury in the 1930s.
Governor’s Parlor Pennsbury was not just a family home. When Penn was in residence, Pennsbury also served as his office and a center of colonial government.
Withdrawing Room Penn had a private room where he could “withdraw” from his public parlor into a more private space. The only way to enter would have been through the Governor’s parlor.
William and Hannah’s Bed Chamber Penn wanted a country estate to enjoy the peace and quiet of country life, but even his private bed chamber became an extension of his office when illness confined him to bed. However, this room was considered a private space and was not accessible to the public.
John Penn’s Bed Chamber Wealthy families had servants to help care for children. This room functioned both as a nursery for baby John and a bed chamber for his nurse, Ann Harrison.
Hannah Penn’s Closet In the 17th century, a closet was not a place to store things. A closet was a small room. William Penn had his withdrawing room downstairs, and the ladies of the house had this private sitting room upstairs to visit with friends and family.
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Letitia Penn’s Bed Chamber Letitia Penn was 21 when she moved to Pennsylvania with her father and step-mother. A portrait of Lady Springett Pennington, Letitia’s grandmother, hangs in her bed chamber.
The Best Chamber Penn referred to this room as the “best chamber” which had very fine and expensive furnishings, which means it was probably meant for guests.
Great Hall On most days, the great hall was used by servants. Penn and his family only used this room when they had company. On those days, the servants ate elsewhere. Notice the large pewter serving platter called a charger, it had been a wedding gift to William Penn and his first wife, Gulielma.
Common Parlor The common parlor served as a family dining room and a place for Hannah Penn to manage the tasks of running a household. A highchair for baby John, the firstborn son to Penn and his second wife, Hannah, is placed near the table that he may dine with his parents.
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Try Drawing, Coloring or Painting Your Own Manor House
Archaeology, The Pennsbury Puzzle: Does it look like the original?
This question can be answered with a firm and resounding shrug of the shoulders. There simply is not enough information available to draw many conclusions about what Pennsbury looked like in 1700. Archaeology confirms a brick front and clapboard back, as reported by Penn in 1685 when he directed “what you can do with bricks, do, what you cant, doe it with good timbers … and we can brick it afterwards.” Unfortunately, Penn was never able to complete the brick work.
Archaeology also offers clues as to the physical features of the house: the metal latches, the color of the tiles, the footprint of the House and the Kitchen House. But Archaeology cannot confirm where and how metals and tiles were used, nor where other, less permanent, buildings were situated. Two inventories of objects in the house (1687 and 1701) provide a detailed look at the rooms and how they were used. Unfortunately this source cannot be used to determine a floor plan. Household accounts and letters from the Penn family, servants, and friends offer a glimpse into the daily life of the people using the estate. Sometimes the evidence is contradictory. These three drawings of the House, both done by surveyors on maps, look nothing like each other. As historians and museum professionals, the staff must balance the evidence and make difficult decisions regarding the appearance of the site. We strive to present as careful and honest a picture of the 17th Century as we can.
What is Colonial Revival?
The American Centennial celebration in the 1870s created a wave of patriotic fervor that inspired many Americans to honor their own history. In addition, many hoped to help the flood of new immigrants become proud Americans with a strong sense of American Traditions and Cultures. Architectural and Interior design styles sprang up after WWI from this interest in the past. Called Colonial Revival, this style was used extensively in public buildings, reconstructions of historic buildings (as at Pennsbury Manor and Williamsburg) and in private homes. Colonial Revival designs didn’t accurately reflect historical models. Mixing features from the wide geographic and historical category of “colonial,” colonial revival presented a romantic ideal of the colonial period.
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