A unique Doylestown Treasure!
Built between 1908-1912. Fonthill Castle was the home of archaeologist, anthropologist, ceramist, scholar and antiquarian Henry Chapman Mercer (1856-1930). Mercer built Fonthill Castle as his home and as a showplace for his collection of tiles and prints. Upon his death in 1930, Mercer left his concrete “Castle for the New World” in trust as a museum of decorative tiles and prints.
In addition to the Mercer Museum and the adjacent Moravian Tile Works, Fonthill is another treasure that has been enjoyed by Doylestown residents and visitors from near and far. The grounds and woods around the main complex provide a peaceful oasis inside of Doylestown. During the Covid Pandemic, the Fonthill Woods became a reliable and welcome resource for getting out of the house.
The castle serves as an early example of reinforced concrete and features forty-four rooms, over two hundred windows, and eighteen fireplaces. Fonthill Castle’s interior features Mercer’s renowned, hand-crafted ceramic tiles designed at the height of the Arts and Crafts movement.
There are 44 rooms in Fonthill including 10 bathrooms, 5 bedrooms and 18 fireplaces. The layout of the interior is unlike anything you will see in other historic landmarks. There are little surprises everywhere you look with a seemingly endless variety of unique rooms. Fonthill Castle is designated a National Historic Landmark and the site is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. Today, Fonthill attracts over 30,000 visitors annually from every state and more than 35 foreign countries.
The grounds are a favorite attraction among the dogs of Doylestown who appreciate the majestic setting around the castle. Or maybe it’s the bushes. The thick woods behind the castle contain numerous walking trails that provide a “deep-woods” experience even though you’re in the borough. A special treat is the elegant and mysterious Little Stone House buried deep in the woods.
Fonthill Castle is open for guided one-hour tours. Due to its historic nature, Fonthill Castle has limited accessibility with steep stairs and narrow, uneven passages throughout the site. Adjacent to the castle is Henry Mercer’s other landmark, the Moravian Tileworks.
Related:
- Mercer Museum Website Link,
- Little Stone House in Fonthill Woods Facebook Page
- www.littlestonehouse.org
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