New Castle&#;s Pride: The Historic Read House and Gardens
Nestled in the heart of New Castle, Delaware, the Read House and Gardens is a testament to the rich history and architectural grandeur of the early United States.
This majestic property, located at 42 The Strand, has been a cornerstone of Delaware&#;s cultural landscape since its construction in
Today, it is a portal to the past and a vibrant center for community engagement and historical exploration.
The Read House, built for George Read Jr., son of the notable statesman George Read, represents the pinnacle of Federal period architecture in Delaware.
At the time of its completion, it was the largest private residence in the state, boasting over 14, square feet of space.
The house&#;s design was inspired by the Adamesque houses of Philadelphia, showcasing a cutting-edge, refined elegance for its era.
Adjacent to the house, the formal gardens, laid out in the late s by William Couper, add a layer of serene beauty to the property.
These gardens have evolved over the years, maintaining the essence of Couper&#;s original design while adapting to contemporary horticultural practices.
The combination o
Read House &#; Gardens
Visit Read House & Gardens
Overlooking the Delaware River in Historic New Castle, the 14,square-foot Read House is preserved as a National Historic Landmark and a beacon of design inspiration.
It was completed in for George Read II, son of one of Delaware’s signers of the Declaration of Independence and Constitution, with acres of historic grounds developed between and the s. Between and , Philip and Lydia Laird’s colonial-revival vision for the Read House & Gardens became known across America through dozens of magazines from Town & Country to Mademoiselle. Visitors today find their own meaning in the space through indoor and outdoor tours, artistic collaborations, social events in the gardens, and a variety of programming.
To learn more about the Read House & Gardens, or join the email list, go to
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Our Story
THE COLONIAL REVIVAL movement was in full swing when Philip D. Laird and Lydia Chichester Laird bought the house in New Castle was in a long slump, and the lapsed waterfront industries along the Strand didn’t look much like the elegant cobblestone-paved byway we know today. Buying up 10 other neighboring properties and helping to organize a townwide movement, the couple wanted to make New Castle a destination for historical tourism along the lines of the new Colonial Williamsburg. The Lairds were preservationists, but they were designers too. In the streetscape as well as inside the Read House, it was about creating a consciously historical look. By decorating with antiques and having the rooms photographed for magazines, they were turning history into a question of taste.
One of the most iconic photos of the house, taken by the noted woman photographer Frances Benjamin Johnston and published in Town & Country magazine in , is of a made-up room. The Lairds’ dining room was initially George Read’s law office, and when it was, it had none of its present wallpaper or furnishings. The couple commissioned the wallpaper in to be hand-painted with scenes of New C
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Buildings of Delaware, W. Barksdale Maynard. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, ,
George Read House (Courtesy of the Delaware Historical Society)
(Photograph by Matthew Aungst)
(Photograph by Matthew Aungst)
(Photograph by Matthew Aungst)
(Photograph by Matthew Aungst)
(Photograph by Matthew Aungst)
(Photograph by Matthew Aungst)
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W. Barksdale Maynard
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