Longwood Residence in Kennett Square
Surrounded by acres of quiet pasture in Kennett Square, the Longwood Residence is a storied Chester County farmhouse whose stone-and-stucco walls have witnessed nearly 280 years of changing times. Originally built in 1746, consisting of just a keeping room and one bedroom above, the home received additions in 1794, the 1960s and most recently in 2023 transforming it into the more formal country home it is today. With these milestones marked by a datestone featured on the exterior chimney, the house has served many purposes over the centuries—each chapter adding to its charm and character.
Dr. Hoobler, a well-known local doctor, purchased the home in 1963 and ran his practice from the front portion of the house in the now sunny, recently expanded family room. In 1985, it was converted into a bed and breakfast with an antique shop called the Campbell House. Owned and operated by Bill & Judy Campbell, they welcomed guests into their historic rooms filled with colonial detailing. Original features such as the walk-in fireplace, wide-plank flooring, and hand-hewn beams remain intact, anchoring the home firmly in its 18th-century roots.
The current homeowners, who enjoy collecting antiques, were drawn not only to the structure’s age and architecture but also to its layered past. Since acquiring the property, they have taken great care to curate furnishings and décor that reflect the home’s colonial-era origins. Throughout the interior, period-appropriate pieces enhance the historic millwork and timeworn textures, lending each room a sense of lived-in authenticity.
The home sits on over a dozen acres of bucolic land, where traces of its agricultural history are still visible. Just off the tree-lined drive, rubble ruins remain from a once-active stone barn that was lost to a fire in the 1980s. A concrete slab foundation, left over from the original silo, hints at the property’s working farm days. From the front porch, views of the active cornfield stretch toward the horizon, reinforcing the rural spirit of the property.
Though the house has evolved to suit the needs of different generations, it retains a strong sense of place—deeply connected to the land and to the history of southwestern Chester County. The recent renovation and sympathetic addition continues that tradition, with thoughtful improvements that honor the character of the home and introduce elements for contemporary living. The Longwood Residence is not only a quintessential example of traditional Pennsylvania farmhouse architecture; it is also a home that honors its past while continuing to write its own story in the present.
