On the Market: Expanded Stone Farmhouse Outside New Hope
The land it sits on is the last surviving piece of a grant William Penn gave to George Pownall in 1682.
2707 River Rd., New Hope, Pa. 18938 | Images via Kurfiss Sotheby’s International Realty
One look at this very handsome fieldstone house for sale in Solebury Township and it should be evident that it has “Bucks County history” written all over it.
(And inside it, as you will soon learn.)
What may not be so evident is that it also has “New Hope party palace” written all over it.
Yet it’s true. Thanks to a much newer wing that’s indistinguishable from the original 1820 farmhouse, this house has plenty of room inside and out for entertaining with elegance — or with abandon.
But before we show you how you can throw any kind of party you want here, let’s dispose of the history.
It begins, as so many other stories of older houses in Bucks do, with William Penn, who granted one George Pownall 1,000 acres of land along the Delaware River in 1682. Armed with the grant, Pownall stakes his claim to land in Bucks County.
In 1710, his son George Jr. and daughter-in-law Hanna decide to settle on a newly surveyed tract of land in this grant. This tract soon becomes known as “Limeport Farm” because of the belt of limestone located beneath its surface. The Pownalls build lime kilns on the site and start mining the stone.
Tavern room
The 1710 deed of land to the Pownalls hangs over the fireplace in the tavern room of this house.
It also predates the house, which was built in 1820. Some of the land around it got sold to others over the years, and today, what remains of the Pownalls’ tract is the nearly 60 acres surrounding this house for sale.
It’s been years since anyone produced lime here, and the original kilns stand ruined on the site. But the house itself has been lovingly maintained and sensitively expanded. How sensitive? Consider this: In building the expansion, the owners managed to find fieldstone that exactly matched the stone used to build the original house.
Now for the entertaining part. Once you enter, you will find a small foyer surrounded by a series of rooms that easily flow one into the other in an unusual-for-the-era open plan.
Dining room
Just past the foyer is the dining room.
Living room
To the dining room’s right, you’ll find the living room and an attached den. To the left of the foyer and attached to the dining room is the tavern room above.
Great room
Media room
It in turn connects to the great room and media room in the newer wing. A covered porch overlooking the pool and barn sits off the media room.
Kitchen and breakfast room
Also connecting the dining room to the great room is a spacious, well-equipped kitchen and breakfast room with a stone hearth fireplace with beehive oven. That fireplace is one of six in this house, and all of them work, running off either gas or wood.
Between all these spaces, you could throw a formal dinner party, a casual movie night or game-watching party, or some combination of the two.
Family room
Game room
Add to all this the family room with bar and full-size fridge and the billiard room in the walkout basement and you have yourself a true party palace.
Pool and barn
And this doesn’t even include the pool next to the original barn, which you can access frrom the billiard room.
Master bedroom
Master bathroom
With five bedrooms, including a spacious master suite with a limestone-floored bath, in the main house and another bedroom in a two-room guest cottage near the pool, you could even put some of your guests up for the night if they had a little too much fun to drive home safely.
All of this lies just upstream from lively New Hope, which is a party unto itself. Should you decide you need to enjoy others’ hospitality, you can always go to one of its many restaurants and clubs. But you’re also sure to get invited to your neighbors’ places as well if you invite them here.
THE FINE PRINT
BEDS: 5
BATHS: 4 full, 1 half
SQUARE FEET: 7,225
SALE PRICE: $5,200,000
OTHER STUFF: That 59.76-acre farmstead actually consists of eight legally separate parcels being sold as a bundle. The house, barn, kilns, spring house and other outbuildings sit on the largest parcel, which measures 18.42 acres. You could easily reconvert the barn, which currently serves as storage space, to stable horses if you so desire.
2707 River Rd., New Hope, Pa. 18938 [Char Morrison | Kurfiss Sotheby’s International Realty]
