Status: Closed
MLS#: PACT492604
Type: Residential - Single Family
Subdivision: Stonehenge
County: CHESTER
The Best of Both Worlds. Old world charm and modern convenience in this quintessential center-hall colonial home located in prestigious Willistown Township and in the award-winning Great Valley School District. This 4-bedroom, 2.5-bath home sits on a desirable square corner lot in the much sought-after Stonehenge community, noted for being a genuine neighborhood with a family-friendly culture. The grounds were designed by the renowned landscape architect, Owen B. Schmidt. They feature a circular driveway, a 1600 square foot brick-paver patio surrounded by a five-foot brick wall, towering oaks and pines, and large rhododendrons, azaleas, and dogwoods. The extensive groundcovers and layered plantings create a breathtaking tapestry of color and texture, and allow a sequence of outdoor spaces and intimate settings, for both privacy and interest. The house is exceptionally well built. Every inch of the exterior is brick with architectural niches in the brickwork on all sides. The mellow 200-year-old reclaimed bricks have a patina that some new bricks imitate but never achieve. The bricks are on the face of, and interwoven with, cinderblock, making this the house the wolf could never blow down. The roof is made of extra-thick (7/8-inch), pressure treated cedar shingles which add charm that other roofs cannot match. All the windows have true-divided-lights, and many have custom-made raised-panel shutters. Your entrance into the home immediately transports you back in time to a period when craftsmanship was handed down through generations of artisans. Although built in 1961, much of the interior was salvaged from demolished 18th century homes including wide-plank flooring, crown molding, wainscoting, chair rail, built-in bookcases, and a corner cabinet owned by a friend of William Penn. Most notably, there are six paneled room ends rescued from famous colonial houses and inns. The antique hardware includes 18 box locks, 4 keyhole latches, and brass fittings throughout the house. There is also a hidden back staircase with antique heart pine sheathing and illuminated fretwork which is not only intriguing but is a safety feature in the event fire blocks the main staircase. In short, every room has exquisite woodwork and hardware comparable to that of great colonial houses like Graeme Park, Hope Lodge, and Wrights Ferry Mansion. Consequently, 2 Salisbury Lane is a well-known house in the world of antique collectors and historical preservationists, having been featured in many books and magazines. Yet the house does have all the modern conveniences including, most notably, four-zone heating, two-zone central air, and a whole-house generator situated out of sight and out of hearing. It has hot water baseboard heating, the most desirable type; a new 200-amp electrical system; a copper lightning rod system; and an ultra-high-quality security system (all doors, windows, heat sensors, and smoke detectors are hard-wired; and there are sensors on the first and even the second floor windows). There is a full stand-up attic with a finished staircase, and a full basement divided into a finished recreation room, a workshop, and a utility room. The house comes with a transferable home warranty, and recent whole-house, radon, termite, and septic inspection reports. In short, 2 Salisbury Lane affords a unique opportunity to own an 18th-century replica in a modern shell. Again, the Best of Both Worlds.