Swanwyck

Swanwyck is a historic home located near New Castle in New Castle County, Delaware. It was built between 1813 and 1819, and is a two-story, three bay, stuccoed brick dwelling reflective of the Regency period.[2] The house has been modified by later additions and is now surrounded by 20th century residential development, unlike its original farmland setting.

Swanwyck
Swanwyck, 2015
Swanwyck is located in Delaware
Swanwyck
Swanwyck is located in the United States
Swanwyck
Location132 Linstone Ave., New Castle, Delaware
Coordinates39.69193°N 75.56396°W / 39.69193; -75.56396
Arealess than one acre
Built1813 (1813)-1819
ArchitectPeter Bauduy
Architectural styleRegency
NRHP reference No.77000387[1]
Added to NRHPMarch 17, 1977

It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977.[1]

History

Swanwyck was designed and built by Peter Bauduy for his daughter, Cora, sometime between 1813 and 1819. Bauduy was a French immigrant who came to Wilmington after fleeing first the French Revolution and then the Haitian Revolution. An associate of the Du Pont family, he was also credited as the architect of the Cathedral of Saint Peter in Wilmington.[2] The name "Swanwyck" came from an old Dutch settlement located nearby on the Delaware River upriver from New Castle.[3]

In the 1940s and 1950s, the farmland around Swanwyck was developed into a residential subdivision called Swanwyck Estates. An addition was built onto the northwest corner of the house around this time, including a new front entrance since the original building is now oriented sideways relative to the street.

HABS photo from 1936 showing the earlier appearance of the house

Architecture

Swanwyck is a two-story brick building exemplifying the British Regency style with a white stuccoed exterior and modest classical details. The main block of the house is three bays wide with subtly projecting piers and a hipped roof. The original facade has been modified by the removal of the central entrance portico and the addition of a separate second floor entrance accessed by exterior stairs. The main ornamentation consists of a prominent string course circling the entire building.[2]

The original interior layout had three large rooms on each floor with a central hallway and staircase, but it has been considerably modified.

References
  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. Vincent Rogers; Rosemary Troy & Edward F. Heite (February 1974). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Swanwyck". National Park Service. and accompanying two photos
  3. Heck, L. W.; Wraight, A. J.; Orth, D. J.; Carter, J. R.; Van Winkle, L. G.; Hazen, Janet (1966). Delaware Place Names. Washington: U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 108. Retrieved August 17, 2017 – via Google Books.
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