This virtual field trip document provides information about various buildings and areas at Pennsbury Manor. It describes the visitors center, barge house, joyner shop, ice house, smoke house, servant house, wood shed, kitchen garden, bake and brew house, formal gardens, manor house (including rooms on the first and second floors), farm animals, blacksmith shop, and Delaware River. Photos and diagrams accompany the text to illustrate different aspects of life at the manor during William Penn's time.
4. The Barge House
Penn and family often traveled to Philadelphia in his barge. It
was approximately a 5 hour trip. The barge house also features
several informative diagrams like the example above.
4/24/2008
6. Joyner Shop
Carpenters worked in the
Joyner's shop to make
and repair wooden
goods. The joyner made
tables, shelves, and
window frames.
4/24/2008
7. Ice House
This building next to
the Joyner shop stored
river ice from the
winter far into the
summertime.
4/24/2008
8. Another small outbuilding,
next to the ice house. This was Smoke House
where the servants smoked
meats.
Smoking the meat
preserved it and gave
it flavor.
4/24/2008
9. Servant House
This small building housed
the outdoor servants and
their families.
Beds in Penn's time
were suspended by
ropes, tightened by a
crank.
4/24/2008
11. Wood Shed
Wood was chopped and
stored here. Firewood
played an important role
because it was used for
winter warmth and for
year round cooking and
household duties.
4/24/2008
15. Bake and Brew House
In this important outbuilding, servants
prepared food and goods. Here we see
soap preparation. In Penn's time it was
customary to wash most things about
once in six months. That includes
washing clothes and taking baths.
4/24/2008
16. Bake and Brew House
Chocolate, beer, pies, roasts, breads,
and stews were also made here.
4/24/2008
18. Delaware River
Flooding from the river fertilized the
fields. The river also provided fish
for food. The river provided
transport for both cargo vessels and
passenger transportation.
4/24/2008
20. Formal Gardens
This garden served as an outdoor room for the Penn family. A
highly ornate and decorative garden was also a sign of wealth.
4/24/2008
21. Manor House
The manor house was built in 1682. It was home to Penn,
his family, and half a dozen servants. Penn would only live
here for two years before he was forced to return to England.
4/24/2008
22. Manor House –
First Floor
Below: A parlor where
guests could wait. The
green tiles in the
fireplace are original.
Above: Penn's
withdrawing room. He
would go here to
conduct private
business, or escape the
noise of the house.
4/24/2008
23. Manor House –
First Floor
Left: Best
parlor, where
Hannah Penn
served tea and
entertained.
Right: The Dining Hall or
Great Hall. Where Penn
and visitors ate. When
Penn was away, the
servants would eat here.
4/24/2008
25. Manor House – Second Floor
Below: The guest
bedroom. Bright colors
were used to show
wealth to Penn’s guests.
Above: The nursery where
the baby - ‘John the
American’ would have
slept.
4/24/2008
26. Manor House – Second Floor
Above: Lettia Penn’s
bedroom.
4/24/2008
27. Manor House – Second Floor
Here is the master bedroom.
Complete with curling scissors,
wig stand and chamber pot.
4/24/2008
28. Animals
Penn had oxen, sheep, peacocks,
horses, chickens, and other
various farm animals. Some
were for labor, some for food.
4/24/2008
29. The Barn
The barn housed all the
animals, and the
surrounding fences were
designed to keep the
animals away from the
house. Outside the fence
they wandered free.
4/24/2008
30. Blacksmith Shop
The blacksmiths were skilled
metalworkers who fixed and made things on the manor including
hooks, tools, wheels, etc. The blacksmiths shop was next to the barn
4/24/2008 and they worked outside year round.
