Barns-Brinton House, Chadds Ford, PA - in the Brandywine Valley

NO. 1 ONLINE GUIDE
TO THE HISTORIC
BRANDYWINE VALLEY
SINCE 1999.

HOME TO LONGWOOD GARDENS, WINTERTHUR, BRANDYWINE RIVER MUSEUM, HAGLEY MUSEUM, NEMOURS MANSION & MORE

FIND IT FAST!

Barns-Brinton House

Route 1, 1 Mile North of Route. 52
Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania 19317

The Barns-Brinton House is located next to the Chaddsford Winery on Rt. 1, about a mile and a half from John Chads house and the Brandywine River Museum. The bank style house was built in 1714 by William Barns on "Ye Great Road to Nottingham" (Baltimore Pike) which was then the main artery connecting Philadelphia and Maryland. The house was run as a tavern by Barns for "ye accommodation of Man and Horse", from 1722 till his death in 1731.

In 1753, James Brinton, grandson of William Brinton, one of the area's earliest settlers, bought the Barns house and associated farm land. Brinton's family owned the house for more than 100 years.

In 1938, Rt. 1 was moved to the north side of the Barns-Brinton house, so that the original entrance of the house and tavern, that once welcome travelers, now faced away from the road. It is lined by an 18th century kitchen garden.

The Chadds Ford Historical Society purchased the tavern/house in 1969, and restored and furnished it as the 16th century country tavern. It is a wonderful example of Flemish bond brickwork and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Inside the house you will see authentic woodwork and paneling, and 18th century furnishings. The hardware in the house is mostly original and was probably the work of Barns.

To visit the Barns-Brinton House you can park at the Chaddsford winery next door and follow the footpath, to the entrance of the tavern.

HOURS: Open hearth cooking and tours of former colonial tavern and home. Open weekends 1 to 5 p.m. Memorial Day through Labor Day. Admission of $5 includes John Chads House, free for Chadds Ford Historical Society members and children 12 and under. Information: (610) 388-7376. www.chaddsfordhistory.org

© Unica Multimedia 610.388.6841

The Barns-Brinton House & Tavern opens weekends, beginning May 28, 2011 through September 4, 2011, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., and will feature special summer demonstrations by the Chadds Ford Historical Society's Junior Guides. These special demonstrations will be held on Saturdays' from 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. Wearing colonial clothing, our teens and tweens will learn and demonstrate colonial skills and crafts. Admission is $5 for one house with the second house free. Students ages 12 to 17 are $3 and admission is free for children 12 and under. The dates for the special demonstration events are as follows:

May 28 - Colonial Games and House Tours at the Barns-Brinton House Learn what games colonial kids might have played. Our Junior Guides will be happy to teach visitors.

June 11 - Craft a Wooden Tape Loom at the Visitors CenterWatch the construction of a tape loom and see how they were used. The Junior Guides will turn piles of wood into finished looms.

June 25 - Beehive Oven Baking at the John Chads House See bread produced from flour to loaves which are baked in our beehive oven. (Bread baking is also demonstrated at the John Chads House on most weekends.)

July 23 - Broom making and Tape Weaving at the Visitors Center Observe how corn brooms were made and see tape looms were threaded and used.

July 30 - Revolutionary War Life at theJohn Chads House Revolutionary War soldier re-enactor, "Ned Hector" will use anecdotes, activities, and role playing to help people better understand what life was like for soldiers and men of African descent in Colonial Pennsylvania.

August 20 - Dressing up Your Dress atthe Barns-Brinton House Learn how fabric and ribbon is transformed into fancy decorations for colonial apparel such as gowns, suits, tri-corn hats and reticules (bags).