From William Penn to Washington and beyond, Thornbury Township has been a part of local Delaware County history.
In 1687, William Penn gave 1,000 acres of Pennsylvania land to his friend George Pearse, who formed Thornbury Township. The English settlers who arrived in this newly-formed Township took advantage of its gently rolling hills, fertile soil, abundance of water, and mild climate to create a thriving agricultural community. They lived peacefully with the native Lenni Lenape people.
Thornbury Township, now home to Echo Hill Farm, has witnessed the unfolding of much American history throughout its long existence. Historic markers note the trails of the Lenni Lenape, locations of Revolutionary War sites including the 1777 Battle of Brandywine, the Dilworthtown Tavern (now Inn), Quaker hospital settings for Washington’s wounded soldiers, and other points of interest such as the Yellow House at the intersection of Thornbury and Glen Mills Roads, one of the oldest U.S. post offices still in use. The township was a stop on the Underground Railroad.
Echo Hill Farm, from its beginnings as a log barn structure in the mid-1700s, continued to work as a dairy farm for many years, until the advent of pasteurized milk in the 1950s. From there, it became The Squire Equestrian Center. Now, for the first time in 250 years, Echo Hill is open again to the public. The current barns and house structures, circa 1880s, offer a location for parties, weddings, antiques and collectibles shopping, and art exhibits. A classic car collection is on display in the barns. There’s plenty of room to maintain respectful distances, and guests use masks as they explore and shop.
For more information about Echo Hill Farm, contact EchoHillFarmCirca1882@gmail.com.