An opulent English manor in Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia.
Contributed Art/Kurfiss.com
by Sharon Lurye PhillyVoice Contributor
America fought a war of independence to rid itself from the rule of English nobility. That didn't stop several generations of Americans from acting like they were English nobility themselves, at least judging from their homes.
The opulent, English-style country homes and manors below are all worthy of a visit from the Queen, or at least the Duchess of Cambridge. You don't need to be royalty to live in one, though; you just have to be royally rich.
1. Home and garden highlights in Washington Crossing, $929,000
(Photo courtesy of Kurfiss Sotheby's International Realty)
It's the kind of home built for garden tours and glossy magazine spreads. The highlight indoors is the two-story fireplace in the living room, while the highlight outdoors is the gazebo carefully cantilevered over the lake.
2. An English village in the middle of Center City, $650,000
(Photo courtesy of Kurfiss)
This historic townhouse can be found in English Village, a courtyard built in 1920 that features 20 charming, English-style homes. Tucked between Walnut and Locust street, it's truly a surprise to stumble on this little village blocks from Rittenhouse Square.
3. Incredible mansion in Chestnut Hill, $2,495,000
(Photo courtesy of Kurfiss)
This stunning, five-bedroom mansion may be called a country mansion, but it's in the heart of the city. The cut-stone construction is set on a terraced hillside, overlooking three landscaped acres, a pond and a swimming pool.
This six-bedroom stunner was home to Charles Louis Borie, one of the architects of the Philadelphia Museum of Art itself. The brick-and-stucco home features no less than seven marble and stone fireplaces, exquisite formal gardens, a huge kitchen, an Olympic swimming pool and a main bedroom with floor-to-ceiling windows.
5. A room for everything in Newtown Square, $7,250,000
(Photo courtesy of Kurfiss)
This mansion set on 12.7 acres features six bedrooms and every other kind of room as well: family room, bar room, formal powder room, mudroom, doggie room, informal powder room, etc. There's even a treehouse. In the attic.