A GRAND HISTORY

Constructed in 1927, Aldie Mansion began its history as one of the grandest houses built during the Roaring Twenties by an artistic and lively couple. William and Martha Mercer commissioned the mansion as an ode to an English Tudor manor named Compton Wynyates, located in Warwickshire, England. Many common characteristics of the Tudor revival style, including steeply pitched roofs, intricate brickwork, dramatic chimneys, and tall, mullioned windows, remain visible at Aldie Mansion today. Additional details like carved interior woodwork, patterned tile floors, stone terraces, and ornate concrete fountains all lend the property an Old-World elegance that’s increasingly hard to find in the present day.

William Mercer himself sculpted many of the mansion’s architectural details. William was the younger brother of Henry Mercer, Doylestown’s famous tile artist and builder of Fonthill Castle. While Henry was well known for his Moravian tile-making, William worked primarily with cement and plaster, creating fountains, fireplace mantels, and intricate plaster ceiling designs. Examples of William’s work can be found all throughout Aldie Mansion, including in the dining room, which features an impressive ceiling design with floral and animal motifs and a massive fireplace displaying the initials W&M.

For quite some time, Aldie Mansion was full of life. Martha and William were well known for their elaborate parties, and dignitaries came to visit from far and wide.

Martha famously once hosted a Christmas party where the Von Trapp family, known for the Sound of Music, performed Christmas carols for her guests in the Great Hall. While William and Martha loved their home at Aldie Mansion, they had no direct heirs. After they both passed away, the mansion changed hands several times, until it was abandoned. Unfortunately, by the early 1980s, the mansion fell into disrepair and abandonment. It was victim to arson and overgrowth, and it suffered from looting. During this period, most of the sculptures and artistic works from the mansion and its gardens were stolen or disappeared.

Heritage Conservancy

In the late 1980s, Heritage Conservancy acquired Aldie Mansion with the promise that it would restore the mansion to its original grandeur. Aldie Mansion stands today as a result of collaborative stewardship thanks to community support. By adaptively reusing historic Aldie Mansion as its base of operation and as a special events venue, Heritage Conservancy helps to safeguard the unique history of this building and its landscape for the heritage of our community.

Founded in 1958, Heritage Conservancy is a nationally accredited not-forprofit conservation organization that specializes in: open space preservation, natural resource protection, property stewardship, historic preservation, Municipal and Community Planning Services and public education and outreach.

The mission of Heritage Conservancy is to preserve and protect our natural and historic heritage. Since its founding, the organization has worked with citizens, community groups, private landowners, municipalities, and government agencies to protect over 16,000 thousand acres of land and dozens of historic sites that are so essential to our region's quality of life.

Heritage Conservancy owns and maintains several publicly accessible ambassador properties that allow community members to get outdoors, explore, and connect with nature. On properties such as Croydon Woods Nature Preserve in

Bristol, PA, and Hart’s Woods Preserve in Doylestown, PA, visitors can enjoy recreational activities including hiking, walking, jogging, nature study, and dog walking (leashed).

In addition, Heritage Conservancy offers educational public programs throughout the year for groups, including municipal officials and schools. By hosting field trips at preserved properties or holding in-school presentations, Heritage Conservancy provides several hands-on educational opportunities that can supplement a teacher or school’s in-class curriculum. The organization’s At Home with Nature virtual series also contains videos and activities for supplemental learning on topics such as Amphibians & Wetlands, Birds & Wildlife, and Pollinators.

Finally, Heritage Conservancy hosts several events throughout the year that are open to the community. Taking place at their Russell-Mandel Nature Preserve, Heritage Conservancy’s annual Farm to Table event connects guests with nature and highlights the importance of safeguarding land to protect the food we eat. Guests are treated to a delicious, locally sourced farm fresh menu, refreshing beer and wine, and live music on a gorgeous backdrop of preserved space.

Every December, Heritage Conservancy also hosts Christmas at Aldie Mansion, a magical evening to kick off the holiday season with gilded hallways, sparkling decorations, festive music, and delicious cuisine.

To learn more about Heritage Conservancy’s work, or to find ways you can get involved, please visit heritageconser vancy.org or call 215-345-7020.

Weddings At Aldie Mansion

As a venue for weddings, receptions, and conferences, Aldie Mansion provides guests with the unique ability to connect with history and nature. From stone terraces ideal for a breezy cocktail hour to a gorgeous atrium perfect for dining and dancing, plus the more intimate library, gallery, and great hall, the various spaces at Aldie Mansion all come together to transport visitors back in time and make the mansion one of the area’s most soughtafter locations for gatherings of all types.

The grounds also provide a variety of romantic outdoor ceremony locations, including:

• Beneath the long-reaching boughs of our 300-year-old Bur Oak tree

• On the steps in front of the Tea Garden fountain

• In the brick courtyard with the Tudor-style estate as your backdrop

• Overlooking the terrace and gardens from the Great Hall

• In the window-lined Ballroom

For several decades, Heritage Conservancy has partnered with Philadelphiabased Jeffrey A. Miller (JAM) Catering to expertly plan events at Aldie Mansion that have been delighting guests with delicious cuisine and warm hospitality. These events also generate ongoing revenue to support the Heritage Conservancy’s work, which protects open spaces and historic places like Aldie Mansion.

For more information about event rentals, please visit jamcater.com/venues/aldie mansion/or call 215-348-3509.

Jeffrey Marshall is retired after 40 years with the Heritage Conservancy, ten of which he served as president. Now he is a senior advisor to the Conservancy. Amy Fulton is a senior communications associate, who is responsible for creating engaging content highlighting Heritage Conservancy’s mission, impact, and initiatives.