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Photo Diary: Fonthill Castle, Pennsylvania [1]

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Date: 2022-07-09

Fonthill Castle, in Doylestown PA, was the home of an eccentric archaeologist-turned-industrialist.

For those who don't know, I live in a converted campervan and travel around the country, posting photo diaries of places that I visit. I am currently in Pennsylvania.

Henry Chapman Mercer was born into a wealthy Pennsylvania family in 1856. Inspired by trips to Europe as a teenager, he took a liking to castles and to ancient technology and became a professional archaeologist, then became part of the Arts and Crafts Movement and began manufacturing decorative ceramic floor and wall tiles.

In 1908 he began construction on Fonthill Castle. Designed with elements of several styles of European castle, the building was made from poured concrete reinforced by iron bars, decorated with a large number of his tiles. Mercer lived here until his death in 1930.

Upon his death, he willed Fonthill to his housekeeper, who lived in it until her own death in 1975. In 1990 the property came under the management of the Bucks County Historical Society. The castle is now a National Historical Site. There are guided tours daily.

Some photos from a visit.

Fonthill Castle

Inside the entryway. The whole building is made from reinforced concrete.

Inside the Library

Some of Mercer’s decorative ceramic tiles

The walls also hold some of Mercer’s archaeological collection of cuneiform tablets

Inside the Study

Looking up to the second floor

Looking down into the Study

The Kitchen stove and dumbwaiter

The tiled ceiling in the Columbus Room

Rollo’s Stairs, with dogprints

Mercer’s Bedroom

Some of Mercer’s ancient pottery collection

The Yellow Guestroom

The Conservatory

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