Abandoned House Ashbridge Mansion 

Steve, I lived on this property in 1993 for a year with my in-laws who lived here for ten years (1987/88 - abt. 1998.) They moved after Walmart purchased the property, also known as the Indian Run Farm which bred Morgan horses. The original owner and subsequent generations, had this "country home" to raise horses while they resided in Philadelphia, it was later purchased by another family in the early 1900s). We lived in what is known as the tenant cottage (now Maggie Moos) and from what I was told, is where the family often lived/stayed. The wood cutter cottage, is actually a wood cutter's shed. The trees are over 200 years old. It is rumored that William Penn gave the large oak trees that line the drive as a gift. If you notice the oaks line the drive toward the cottage, as the manor house was an after thought to accommodate family and visitors to their summer place. The stone house with the garage that you mention, was the caretaker's house and when I lived on the property it was recently vacated and there was a horse drawn carriage in the garage area. The barn was a 4 story structure with horse stalls on the lowest level (access was along the side of the barn which faces Rt 30 bypass.) The upper levels were accessed by the large doors and ramp used to drive tractors and such into the barn. The "Manor House" as I knew it, was divided up into, I think, 5 apartments. Once Walmart purchased the property, most people vacated the apartments. It was empty for over a year when my husband and I briefly moved in with his parents and then, He, his friend and I walked through some of the apartments which were a mess. Originally, It was a manor house with the two porches, upper and lower, a kitchen added on to the right side, along with servant quarters. Most of the buildings were occupied and used up until at least 1993 while I lived there, when the original owners still kept and bred Morgan Horses on the property. I remember the horses being in two of the three pastures on the property. One pasture was along side of the cottage all the way up to rt 100. The second pasture was across the road (which made a loop around the property and is mostly still there) to the south side of the barn facing Rt 30 bypass and ending near the bend in the road by the grounds keeper's house. It butted up to the Foote Mineral Company property that was where the current Main Street at Exton center is located. The third pasture is the now open field you find in front of the Manor House. The first pasture I mentioned is where the current "park like" area and pond are. If you look closely toward Rt 100, you will see a rise in the elevation/hill that has a wide space carved out of it. That was the original entrance. The road came up and met with the road that is in front of Wendell August. It made a large backward "P" shape on the property. As you entered the property road from Rt 100, the "drive" was lined on both sides with post and rail fencing like you see at most horse farms. Along the fences were large honeysuckle hedges that smelled wonderful in the spring and summer! To the right would be a pasture and to the left, the pond, which at one time was stocked with fish. The drive went straight back to the manor house, but first made a left turn to the stone cottage, a bend to the right to head around the barn, and another bend to the right to arrive in front of the caretaker's house and then to the Manor house. The buildings are supposed to be preserved, but they are to be leased out and then they will know how to update/alter them. The Manor house will require extensive remodeling and repairs. I am friends with the former township supervisor and at the time he told me that the Manor House was slated for possible offices?? Time will tell, but it would be nice to see them preserved in some manor. Thanks for the tour!

Hi there. I lived in the house in one of the upstairs apartments from 1978-1982, when I went to college. We use to play in thee iOS cutters cottage - it was a 1 room downstairs and one up top. The downstairs has a wood burning oven used to heat and cook. So many memories walking down the lane on my way to catch the bus to school or to swim or fish in the pond. I can remember the inside. And I am certain some if my things had been left in the attic. We all entered the house from what you call the back of the house. It was awesome to go to the barn to feed the cows and sheep and our horses. The barn has been changed up SO much now.

It's a shame how people let these magnificent old homes just sit and rot, yet they'll spend millions to have a new one built that is no where near the quality of the old ones.

That tarp on the roof is all the township does to the place. They try to protect the roof so water doesn't damage the interior. It then gets tears from the wind and rips off which you can see from the video. They usually fix it but it happens every year. That is all the works I ever see done to the place.

Your welcome. I really enjoy doing the buildings that have a lot of history in them. Thank You for the kind words

that item in the back you weren't sure what it was is an old oil fired boiler with a modern burner on it

beautiful house. I bet it was stunning in its time

Same here, I really wanted to get inside of that place as well. I have heard past stories on my facebook of people who use to be able to get into this houses 10 years ago when the area was all woods. Now it nearly impossible which sucks since they built that shopping center and new police station right next to it :(

Thank you so much. Means a lot. Yea this house sure had many of those horses and probably luxury carriages as well. Yea i really wanted to get inside of this one

Yes there are many in exton. I still want to see the small one that covered still

Thanks for the up-front disclosure. That way I can watch what I want of it without waiting to see the inside. So glad to see that there some honest people on RU-vid! I'm so tired of "click bait"! But I did like what I watched of it.

I enjoyed this video even though you couldn't get inside. I like the pictures you show at the end. It gives a whole different feel to the house/property. I will definitely keep watching. Thank you

good question. Most of the buildings were built from stone in the ground in the early 1700s. Later on in years, I am sure building material was imported or made.

There is another one of these in my employee house video that was converted but much bigger. Thanks for the info

Thank You William. Ben and Tiki both helped me start this journey from watching their videos and I am glad you enjoy mine!

Thanks Ben. It deserved the spotlight as almost any abandoned structure

I went around when I was doing my pictures before I did the video and I actually (shouldnt of since a camera was looking at me) looked at the 3 doors, 2 up front, one in the back. They actually had two to three layers of boards on them. It was covering the entire opening. The back door had a master lock on that was a board over another board with another master lock. Im not kidding lol they went pretty overboard on this one. I did go up the stairs but same door situation there.

Many thanks Steve, for loving these once beautiful homes, as we do. Please keep sharing your adventures.

yea I really was hoping to find some opening to that place but i found nothing. I am sure it has some amazing architecture inside

They are using the tarps to protect the roof from letting water in but of course the tarps keep ripping off

Incredible job on this as always Steve-o. It's awesome to see a house that has been standing on earth for so many years! I could just imagine horses and buggies pulling up to that house and ladies running around in bonnets! I also just wanted to say that I'm sure nobody wants to get inside that house more than you do - but I appreciate you driving around to all these places even if it only means we can see the outside. Thanks for the time and effort you put this, Steve! Steve

Def beautiful. Someone mentioned it looked like the house from Amityville Horror

I have found that these type of places owned by the township and out in the open in public eye are like that. Have you seen my Exton witch house video. That house is right down the road and they are using 3 heavy duty master locks, the ones you cant cut, on each door.

Lol this is right near the Maggie Moos and Walmart thanks I have always saw it as skid when me and my family went to Bucca Di Peppo and I always would wander about it

Wow that was an awesome trip through time and sure wish you could have got into it. These old places just mesmerize me! I really enjoyed it from Canada!

Loved your video!!It is too bad you couldn't get inside but it was still interesting ..Thanks from Canada!

I really enjoyed this video Steve. You did the very best job you could under the circumstances. Beautiful old house with some excellent history attached to it. Also, amazing photos you captured.

Such a beautiful home

Sometimes it cannot be helped if you cannot get inside. Outside tours are just as good.

I can imagine that the inside of this house has to be pretty well preserved. Please try to find out if there is a way that the township will allow you to take video/pics before they decide to tear it down. Something like this should be shared. It's a part of history, maybe even the shopping center would be interested in doing something to pay tribute to it's structure. I'd be interested to know. Thank you for your videos, I just stumbled across you yesterday, and I've watched quite a few already. It's nice to hear the history that goes along with these old homes. Thanks again, and I look forward to watching more videos.

Beautiful house! My imagination was running wild about the inside but not to worry about not getting in.

What a gorgeous mansion and property! I appreciate the time and work you put into looking up the history of these places for us. Thanks for showing us this lovely estate.

Was still interesting even though you didn't go in. Thanks for the fun outside tour and all the great background. Bet it was a beauty in its time :)

Wow, I've never seen such a nice lawn at an abandoned house!! lol

Great work Steve ! Very cool indeed. I love old houses from the 1810 era and earlier. I live in one of the few out buildings left on the old Steven Webb farm here in Pennsbury Twnshp. PA of which part of it sits on Longwood Gardens' property. After doing a Gordon-Reed title search, it is believed my home was built in the year of 1730 and was either the "starter" house or the Webb cistern. Thanks again and keep up the good work !

Looks like somebody is going to renovate it...and keeping the garden maintained. ..

Nice house and great story. Sad that Sam and his club have invaded such a beautiful setting. Thanks for all of your great videos and the history lesson. Love them all. Don't let the haters get you down !!!

OMGoodness....such a beautiful property.....so sad. And, I love whatever videos regarding old homes/structures you provide. Thanks!

Thank You. I try my best to get inside of many of these place but I do find ones I cant still deserve some spotlight on you tube b/c they are unique and have a deep history

Actually, 'Farm Houses' are usually large! I believe it was to accommodate the many guests and children they would have.

This house is so incredibly beautiful.

kind of sad to tear an old house that has lasted over 100 years. then build a house that will not last for 30 years

I agree with you 100% and Thank You so much. So many of these types of places in Pa and all around are just being wasted. They have the architecture you wont see in newer homes today and it a shame for the township to not put any money into this as it was a major part of why the township and the land exist today.

Im glad they do, historical buildings like these are so important. Thanks for the video & for investigating its history Steve

Almost all these locations that are abandoned are owned by someone. It can be a private owner, township, state, or government. Some locations can vary. My goal is to ask for permission especially in area that are highly guarded or owned by the government (you do some hard time if caught on there property, i don't need that). I post that info in the beginning to warm new comers that this is not as easy as it looks

I personally LIKE hearing the histories.....and thanx for that!

Awesome looking house .No doubt the tin roof has helped preserve the house a few extrra decades . Very interesting .

Thank you for understanding.

Thanks Tiki. Def a beauty of a house right there

Cool, Thanks for letting me know. I wasnt sure about it at first

What a beautiful piece of property. I imagine the house in its day would have been a masterpiece. It would have been awesome if you could have gone inside, but completely understand why that wasn't possible. I enjoyed the walk around tour and the history of it. I loved the ivy covering some of the house and windows and the photos you took were great!! Thanks for sharing!:)

That makes sense, to ask someone for permission before just entering someone's home. I agree with that.

thank you, again another beautiful video,

Good job! That piece of equipment you were wondering about looks like a oil-fired hot water boiler (Furnace) to heat the house.

nice tour! I can image what's inside! I hope the city can restore it ! great job!

That was an old coal fired boiler for heating the radiators but was converted to oil fired. If you look you can see the oil gun assembly was mounted in the access door where the coal would have been shoveled.

Yea I was hoping to get in just now way to. I hope they fix it up. The township tries to protect it

PS .. I am STILL not over that stone house being bull dozed near the Franklin Mint.. can't get over the fact they flattened it .. .what a beautiful place. Georgia has some abandoned buildings but most have been turned into homes or offices .. still see old home places though when you ride horse back in the country side. I cam across one place that had been part of a plantation ..one of the largest in Georgia. Found old plates and even a pipe bowl while rooting around near one of the places.

thank you for that clarification. I thought it was something in that category!

It's too bad that some people can't understand that it's absolutely impossible for you to do an inside tour! I think this house is so gorgeous! You have to do what is best for you not us! I am good with whatever you can do! Thanks once again! Who cares about the wind! I heard everything very wel!

great job steve..amazing looking house must have been great in the day.

Thank you for the kind words! Yea if i had the money I would do a lot to save these places.

My type of exploring is I dont break and enter but I do try to find a way in. I usually take advantage of other ppl work of getting into the places but since this was is pretty open to the public eye and police, I can see why nobody attempted to pull the boards down. I do check all doors which is how i got into that last house I posted. I usually look for basement access doors but this place had them filled up with dirt. My goal is to get into a house someway without breaking and entering

Thanks Moo, thats why I had to make a video on it!

great job steve, you and ben and his friend are good people....i like all of you and ben's video's you guys keep up the good work.

I have always wanted to see what was under the tarp. A coulple amazing old homes in Exton.

Thank Raven, yea this camera not bad with wind but when it really blowing, that a different story. House is awesome and I would still like to at least peak inside

i so want to see it to but cant seem to find a way in. Thanks for understanding!

Nice video, thanks

Interesting history.

Looks like it was originally a 5 bay dutch colonial, then a 3 bay addition to the left side.

Thank You Chuck

Nice work.

It would have been great to see the inside, but for one thing it seems incredibly dangerous and hey the outside is quite beautiful, so still a great video!

Thanks man.

after all the videos you've made which one was your favorite..best house..best history..just the all time best??

Too bad you couldnt get inside, but on the bright side seeing the how well secured it looks, perhaps whoever owns it plans to renovate it.

I don't know an address but its literally like 10 feet from lima estates on the middletown friends meeting side, you can see it from, 352 but theres vines and trees over it. It was a house that the guy that invented matches lived in and it was saved and even given a plaque, but the building was never restored and its a wreck now. Just to make sure we're on the same page here, it doesnt look like the house in your video, its just in a similar situation.

Found it & it's covered on Google Earth too. Bugs me because I want to see the old small house too.

glad they only painted on the plywood

Can I go exploring with you?

Thanks man

Thank You. Yea the reason why this building has not been ripped apart (boards removed) like normal places is b/c the Township Police headquarters is a stone throw across the street with a camera on it. I just found that out through a friend who works in the building. Sadly he cant get me access to it :( bummer

An article written about the last family that had it under private ownership and how they used the property. www.pottsmerc.com/article/MP/20030203/TMP05/302039940

i hope so as well. Not much has been happening to it recently.

Wonderful Video..I Loved It!..The Most Awesome Property Ive Ever Seen...It Should Be Preserved....sad that our country doesnt do much to preserve these beautiful historical places...yet waste millions of taxpayers money on stupid stuff,,This is our countrys history and Should be Preserved!..Thank You Steve For Posting This!

Yea i was very disappointed when i saw and found out about it. PA has a lot of history and a good amount of it is just sitting there with no love or effort to keep it in good condition

I don't know why people keep referring a large house as a mansion, its just a farm house.

I dont really care if its inside or outside I enjoy the videos and story anyway. Keep the good work.

u should have gone up the stairs and seen in there was a balcony door to go inside. Will u do a revisit soon? The lawns were kept very well. I would have loved to see inside the house. It must be so nice inside. Hope u revisit.

yea i hope they get back onto saving this structure

I hope someone has plans to restore it.

Thanks cath

The barn is now a store and there is a maggie moos (icecream place) behind it which was a old building that was there not sure what it was but they added on to it.

Cool Video Still of the Grounds.

your right by not going inside. it looks pretty beat up.

just the history of who owned and built it had to do with why the land it resides in is here today

that would ,make a lovely be and breakfast place...

Since progress has taken over pretty much, what they going to do with the house? It's an eyesore in this condition amongst the progress.

wait till night time, thats what my friends did. its awesome inside!