FONTHILL

 Now for something different.

One of my favorite places when I lived in Doylestown to escape and walk, to contemplate, was a place I have featured before, Fonthill Castle. I used to walk there many times each season. It always enthralled me. To describe this European castle as a gingerbread castle of an enchanted prince is probably not far from the truth.  These pictures I took when there back in September. The builder was Henry Chapman Mercer, a handsome and interesting man.

The Chapmans and the Mercers were both prosperous and prominent in the area. Mercer himself, an archeologists, author and collector, and single all his life though he had a relationship with a debutant who would stay with him somewhat regularly, and there were also rumors of men he may have also been involved. He was very private, eccentric and an avid dog lover and lover of all creatures. Before his death he destroyed files, dairies and other things that may have given us more background on him. Fonthill, just one of his masterpieces was built between 1908 and 1912, by just himself and 8 to 10 tradesmen who knew nothing about concrete to help him build the castle. The castle itself is a fantastic object, but I wouldn't classify it as a work of architecture partly because there was no architect really. Mercer himself designed the thing, as he did with the nearby Mercer Museum, and the Moravian Tile Works. Mercer himself designed the castle, one room at a time, molding each of the rooms from blocks of clay, which he then stacked in a pile with little regard to interior traffic patterns or exterior appearance. Fortunately, the result is fantastic, considering it's mostly reinforced poured concrete, not the warmest of building material, yet the place is charming and stunning and undeniably appealing. 

On the same grounds is the Moravian Tile Works for which Mercer is so famous for. They are pretty unique tiles and are currently on display all over the PA State Capitol Building, the Grauman's Chinese Theatre, the Casino in Monte Carlo and many others overseas. His museum also located in Doylestown, is a huge structure, and houses one of the largest collections of pre-industrial American items.  The tile works is a pretty cool place to walk too.

ENCHANTED CASTLE

I was happy to find myself with a three day weekend, as work has been very busy of late. With over forty hours in, I took Friday off, and as cold as it has gotten I found myself in Doylestown, at one of our hidden gems here. The day started out nice, but got darker as the day went on. I wanted to take some pictures and experiment with finishes, so off I went.If you happened to find yourself traveling through Europe, you probably wouldn’t be that surprised to come across an old castle. However, a castle in the countryside of Philadelphia is another story.

In Doylestown,  that’s what you’ll find. In fact, there are three castle-like structures in the town, all built by the interesting and eccentric Henry Chapman Mercer. Of the three buildings that Mercer built, none were as personal as his home, Fonthill Castle. Built between 1908 and 1910 by 10 unskilled craftsmen and one horse, Mercer’s vision was created using hand-mixed concrete and a trial-and-error method that somehow didn’t fail miserably. Mercer lived in the castle from 1910 until his death in 1930. Dying without heirs, he put his home in a trust as a museum, with the condition that his housekeeper and his assistant, Laura and Frank Swain, be allowed to stay in the home until their deaths. After Laura Swain died in 1975, the home was opened as a museum the following year.

Mercer called Fonthill a “Castle for the New World,” and walking up to the home, it’s not hard to imagine it fitting in well amongst the many castles of Europe. The home’s large size and towering concrete walls make this one of the most impressive home exteriors I’ve come across anywhere around these parts. But the impressiveness doesn’t stop outside. In fact, the interior is just as fascinating, if not more so, than the outside of the home. Unfortunately the interior wasn't open the day I went, but it is quite unique. 

Needless to say, when I got home from freezing my balls off a bowl of hot apple oatmeal was in order.

And in other news, the lovable eagle pair is back again in Florida. Harriet and M15 have made the nest ready, and she will most likely lay eggs soon. It's already been fasanating to watch both parents ready the nest, and how particular they are with nest keeping. Last year was a treat and highly addictive to watch the whole cycle. I even shed a tear when baby E9 left. To watch the cam live go here.

FLANEUR FOREVER

After being in all winter, I felt as though for a flaneur, I cleaned up quite nice. Last weekend my friend J and his boyfriend,  and the Lad were in town, and it seems the social wheel is about to start turning again. But I still have no problem being a flaneur I say. We had a standing reservation at The Golden Peasant Inn, in New Hope along the canal followed by a walking tour of the hamlet. Nothing like a get away in your own back yard. Yours truly was hired as guide again.  

While it seems spring may never fully arrive, the daffodils at my place are in full swing....

Golden Pheasant Inn is a magical country bed and breakfast inn and restaurant nestled between the Delaware River and the Pennsylvania canal in Bucks County. The Inn, built in 1857, is home to the longest continuously operating restaurant/hotel along the Delaware Canal, and is recognized on the National Registry of Historic Places. The tavern and former mule barn area of the Golden Pheasant Inn served as early commercial buildings constructed along the Delaware River and the Delaware Canal to serve mercantile traffic. An important gathering place, the tavern was the social hub for farmers, travelers, and later, canal men and vacationers. Today, the property retains its architectural integrity and continues to be used as a lodging facility—as it has for its entire history.

Our room was very well appointed but narrow, but it was still very comfy. Who am I too complain if the bed takes up the whole room!

Our one points of interest everyone seemed to want to see was not far from the Casa du Borghese...Fonthill Castle.

 Fonthill was the home of the American archeologist and tile maker Henry Chapman Mercer, in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. Built between 1908 and 1912, it is an early example of poured-in-place concrete and features 44 rooms, over 200 windows, 18 fireplaces and 10 bathrooms. The interior was originally painted in pastel colors, but age and sunlight have all but eradicated any hint of the former hues. It contains much built-in furniture and is embellished with decorative tiles that Mercer made at the height of the Arts and Crafts movement.

 

The home was individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972,and was later included in a National Historic Landmark District along with the Moravian Pottery and Tile Works and the Mercer Museum. These three structures are the only poured-in-place concrete structures built by Mercer. The Moravian Pottery and Tile Works is located on the same property as Fontill, and is the location of where the beautiful tiles Mercer made,  and the Mercer Museum is located approximately one mile away. Water and pollution have caused damage to all of the structures, none more so than at Fonthill, where replacement of damaged windowsills is almost an annual event.

Some of the beautiful tiles Mercer is known for. These can be seen all around the area here.

The Moravian Pottery and Tile Works

Some of the dainty wild violets blooming....

After a long day of walking and going pub to pub we all slept rather well that night. And lets not discuss the mouthwatering brunch the next day.......

That required another work off.

The Michener Labyrinth

If one lives in this area, with Philadelphia, New Hope, and Doylestown all so close by then one can't complain they have nothing to do. While off on my last vacation I had two free days left so after the pool the one day, the Lad and I went for a light bite, then off to check out the historical sites in Doylestown, which is where I am. I have been many times, but what I really wanted to check out was the new Michener Labyrinth that was added as part of the Michener Museum. The labyrinth is an ancient pattern found in cultures around the world dating back thousands of years. Today people from all over the globe, like blog buddy Deb, walk to quite the mind, find balance, encourage meditation, gain insight and promote well-being. They are historical, cultural, and a land sculpture all in one. So after the pool the one day, we ventured over to check out this find. My first time to ever walk one too I might add.
 

And after a couple wrong turns, I made it to the center!!!!

I was very excited to walk my first labyrinth, as they aren't that common around here. I don't know if I felt more calm or not...it could also have been the libations I had earlier! And if you enjoy labyrinths you must check out Deb's blog, She Who Seeks in my blog roll. She often features many labyrinths of all magnitudes. Right behind the labyrinth is the James A Michener Museum. yes- that James A Michener, who was an American author of more than 40 titles, the majority of which were sweeping sagas, covering the lives of many generations in particular geographic locales and incorporating historical facts into the stories.

Opened in 1988 in Michener's hometown of Doylestown, Pennsylvania, the James A. Michener Art Museum houses collections of local and well-known artists. The museum, constructed from the remains of an old prison, is a non-profit organization, with both permanent and rotating collections. Two prominent permanent fixtures are the James A. Michener display room and the Nakashima Reading Room, constructed in honor of his third wife's Japanese heritage. The museum is known for its permanent collection of Pennsylvania Impressionist paintings and swank champagne art exhibitions.

Across this street from all this is the Mercer Museum which I have written of before. Henry Mercer personally designed plans for a museum to house his collection, six stories tall and cast of poured-in-place concrete. Mercer's museum was completed in 1916. In addition to tools, it displays furnishings of early America, carriages, stove plates, a gallows, antique fire engines, a whaleboat, and the Lenape Stone. The Spruance Library, which houses historical research materials, is located in the lovely adjoining mansion. Mercer decided to build with concrete after the Great Boston Fire of 1872 destroyed his aunt's prized collection of medieval armor, which had been stored in wooden structures. He did not want his own collections to suffer the same fate. Locals mocked his choice of building materials, but on completion of the museum, he lit a bonfire on its roof to prove that it was fireproof. Mercer's museum was an early demonstration of rebar-reinforced concrete as a structural material. You can see this castle of sorts all over town.

And what's really cool is all these sites are all on the same block. And this is just the tip of the iceberg in Doylestown sighting and seeing.