Brooklawn

Hidden in plain sight, Brooklawn quietly rests along Newark Road. Brooklawn isn’t just a house. It’s a time capsule, a red-brick testament to Federal-style elegance. The original structure dates back to the 1680s. Imagine the stories those bricks could tell. Brooklawn sits on nearly 41 acres of rolling hills, pastures, and woodlands. It’s a picturesque landscape that has witnessed centuries of change. In the early 1900s, investment banker W. Plunket Stewart purchased the estate. It later became the home of U.S. District Court Judge John Hannum and his wife, Nancy Penn Smith Hannum. Nancy was a true force of nature. She served as master of foxhounds for Stewart’s Cheshire Hunt for decades. She was also a renowned conservationist in Chester County. Her love for the land is woven into the very fabric of Brooklawn. Brooklawn also has a Hollywood connection. Remember Alfred Hitchcock’s 1964 thriller, “Marnie”? Several equestrian scenes were filmed on the grounds of Brooklawn. Adding to its historical significance, Brooklawn boasts an extension designed by Philadelphia architect Arthur Ingersoll Meigs in 1931. Meigs didn’t just add to the house, he also designed a spring house, servants’ quarters, and a garage. He even added a low stone wall along Newark Road, a subtle touch that enhances Brooklawn’s timeless appeal. Brooklawn stands as a reminder of a bygone era, a place where history and nature intertwine.