Castles of Creativity: Mercer Museum & Fonthill Castle in Bucks County, PA (Side of Culture)

Bucks County, just northeast of Philadelphia, has long attracted creative people, from Pennsylvania Impressionist painters in the early 20th century to 21st-century actors and celebrities. One of these, the multi-hyphenate Henry C. Mercer (1856–1930), was an Arts and Crafts tile maker, archaeologist, collector of artifacts, and writer who left a legacy of artistry and craftsmanship that still inspires and intrigues locals and visitors. Mercer’s home and workspace, Fonthill Castle in Doylestown, is a fanciful concrete marvel studded with handmade tiles. Steps from Fonthill, Mercer’s tiles continue to be produced. Also in Doylestown, the Mercer Museum, another concrete castle, displays Mercer’s tens of thousands of pre-industrial, mostly American tools.