Chester County barns feature a unique history unlike any other barn design in the nation, writes Robert Kroeger for Farm Progress.
Barns throughout the county feature a distinctly English architectural style. Stone exteriors and rounded, cone-shaped supportive piers were a common style among English barns as far back as the thirteenth century.
Historians shared that the English style of round support pillars began as a way to avoid damage from carts and farm machinery. The tapered, conical supports also required less material and construction time.
Scholars and authors hypothesize that English Quakers brought this barn style to Pennsylvania.
But what’s truly fascinating about this design is how it is specific to Chester County only. While some barns throughout the county do have square supports, the frequency of these cone-shaped supports have dubbed this style the “Chester County barn.”
Local resident Warren Claytor owns a 16.8 acre farm in Willistown Township with history dating back to 1723. The 1870 barn on the property features conical piers across multiple faces.
Since purchasing the property in 2002, Claytor has worked tirelessly to restore the barn. Now with the original stone exposed, Claytor’s years of renovation have worked to maintain the beauty and historical charm of this fascinating piece of local history.
Read more about Chester County barns and the unique history of these pieces of local architecture in Farm Progress.
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