University City in Philadelphia in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Hamilton's Carriage House & Stable

The Woodlands

— Historic Mansion, Cemetery & Landscape —

Hamilton's Carriage House & Stable Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), April 15, 2023

1. Hamilton's Carriage House & Stable Marker

Inscription.

Hamilton's Carriage House and Stable. The Woodlands.

"The Carriage House and Stable is perhaps even finer than the house with its wonderfully simple use of Federal geometric design." Edward Teitelman, Architecture in Philadelphia (1974)

, William Hamilton's desire to create a fashionable estate with a unity of design dictated both the placement of the building in the landscape and its distinctive architectural features. The south and east facades that are visible from the road share an affinity to the mansion. The unifying features include the use of subtle projections and recessions of building plane and classical architectural motifs: blind arches, rondels, niches, and keystones. Arch-headed windows with radiating panes of glass were fashionable at the time but later altered for more functional windows.,

1786 Hamilton returned from England, where he was influenced by the architectural grandeur of English country estates and determined to redesign his property in Philadelphia. , 1788-90 The initial phase of construction began during renovation of the mansion. It involved a two-story central section with a carriage way, horse stalls on each side, and upper hay loft, all covered by a wood-shingled hipped roof. , 1791-92 The second phase added one-story shed-roofed wings on both sides. The east wing was used as a harness room, the west for storage. , 1813 The death of Hamilton and the transfer of his 600 acre estate to a nephew. , 1827 Subdivision and sale of the estate, reducing the residential portion to 92 acres. This land included the gate lodges, mansion, carriage house and stable, greenhouse, and ice house. , 1840 Eli Kirk Price and associates founded the Woodland Cemetery Company of Philadelphia. They purchased the property to develop a rural cemetery on the outskirts of the city. The Carriage House and Stable continued to be used for its original purpose. , 1912 Fire in the second floor hay loft destroyed most of the roof rafters and flooring. Some original 18th-century timbers still remain in the west shed section. The new, rebuilt roof was covered in standing seam metal. , 1915-2004 After horses were replaced by gasoline powered vehicles, the Carriage House and Stable was converted to a storage area for vehicles, mowers, and cemetery and landscaping supplies and tools. , 2004-06 Documentation of the building was undertaken by the Historic American Buildings Survey. Additionally, a conditions assessment was carried out through the Collaborative Cost Sharing Program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the National Park Service. A Save America's Treasures Grant of the National Park Service matched by other funders assisted with roof replacement costs.

"The Carriage House and Stable is perhaps even finer than the house with its wonderfully simple use of Federal geometric design." Edward Teitelman, Architecture in Philadelphia (1974)

William Hamilton's desire to create a fashionable estate with a unity of design dictated both the placement of the building in the landscape and its distinctive architectural features. The south and east facades that are visible from the road share an affinity to the mansion. The unifying features include the use of subtle projections and recessions of building plane and classical architectural motifs: blind arches, rondels, niches, and keystones. Arch-headed windows with radiating panes of glass were fashionable at the time but later altered for more functional windows.

1786 Hamilton returned from England, where he was influenced by the architectural grandeur of English country estates and determined to redesign his property in Philadelphia.
1788-90 The initial phase of construction began during renovation of the mansion. It involved a two-story central section with a carriage way, horse stalls on each side, and upper hay loft—all covered by a wood-shingled hipped roof.
1791-92 The second phase added one-story
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shed-roofed wings on both sides. The east wing was used as a harness room, the west for storage.
1813 The death of Hamilton and the transfer of his 600 acre estate to a nephew.
1827 Subdivision and sale of the estate, reducing the residential portion to 92 acres. This land included the gate lodges, mansion, carriage house and stable, greenhouse, and ice house.
1840 Eli Kirk Price and associates founded the Woodland Cemetery Company of Philadelphia. They purchased the property to develop a rural cemetery on the outskirts of the city. The Carriage House and Stable continued to be used for its original purpose.
1912 Fire in the second floor hay loft destroyed most of the roof rafters and flooring. Some original 18th-century timbers still remain in the west shed section. The new, rebuilt roof was covered in standing seam metal.
1915-2004 After horses were replaced by gasoline powered vehicles, the Carriage House and Stable was converted to a storage area for vehicles, mowers, and cemetery and landscaping supplies and tools.
2004-06 Documentation of the building was undertaken by the Historic American Buildings Survey. Additionally, a conditions assessment was carried out through the Collaborative Cost Sharing Program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), April 15, 2023

2. Hamilton's Carriage House & Stable Marker
and the National Park Service. A Save America's Treasures Grant of the National Park Service matched by other funders assisted with roof replacement costs.

Erected by The Woodlands Foundation.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Architecture • Roads & Vehicles. A significant historical year for this entry is 1786.

Location. 39° 56.788′ N, 75° 12.244′ W. Marker is in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia County. It is in University City. Marker is at the intersection of Woodland Avenue and Chester Avenue, on the left when traveling west on Woodland Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 4000 Woodland Ave, Philadelphia PA 19104, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Hamilton's Greenhouses & Hothouses (within shouting distance of this marker); Commodore David Porter (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Philadelphia Orchard Project (about 600 feet away); William Hamilton's Schuylkill River Residence & Pleasure Gardens (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Woodlands (approx. 0.2 miles away); Paul Philippe Cret (approx. 0.2 miles away); Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science (approx. ¼ mile away); Woodlands Cemetery (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Philadelphia.

Credits. This page was last revised on April 16, 2023. It was originally submitted on April 16, 2023, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 128 times since then and 36 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 16, 2023, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.