1752 to 1754
John Potts
Pottstown,
Pennsylvania, USA
Pottsgrove Manor
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John Potts began building Pottsgrove Manor on a 1,000-acre plantation in 1752. The Georgian-style manor with its sandstone exterior was typical of the style of architecture then popular among Philadelphia merchants. Upon its completion, Pottsgrove Manor was one of the finest American homes outside of Philadelphia, and visitors came from miles around to gaze at the building, awed by both its size and its architectural beauty.
The founder of the town of Pottstown (which he called Pottsgrove), Potts was a wealthy colonial ironmaster, merchant, and English Quaker, and was appointed Justice of the Peace and Judge on the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas. He, his wife, and their 13 children lived in Pottsgrove Manor until 1768, when their son Thomas inherited the house.
The four acres of the original property which remain today are run by Montgomery County's Department of History and Cultural Arts. The Manor has been restored and furnished in order to accurately portray the life and times of John Potts and his family. The guided tour discusses many different topics related to the Potts family and life in the 18th century, including slavery and indentured servitude. The property includes the Manor; the Colonial Revival Garden, with various flowers and herbs grown in 18th-century Pennsylvania gardens; and a Memorial Park with picnic facilities.
Pottsgrove Manor and much of the town of Pottstown were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.
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