Grey Towers Castle

Grey Towers Castle is a Gothic Revival residence in Cheltenham Township, built with grey stone walls trimmed with Indiana limestone. The residence contains forty rooms with ornate woodwork and elements of French Renaissance architecture.

William Welsh Harrison, co-owner of the Franklin Sugar Refinery, commissioned architect Horace Trumbauer to build this residence in 1893 after Rosedale Hall burned down. Construction took three years and cost more than 600,000 dollars.

The Mirror Room displays a ceiling painting by François Lafon showing the four seasons with cupids set against a zodiac background. This decoration reflects the taste of wealthy American families toward the end of the 19th century.

The building now belongs to Arcadia University and houses administrative offices such as Admissions and Financial Aid on the ground floor. Upper floors serve as student accommodations and are not open to the public.

The Great Hall rises three stories high with a barrel-vaulted ceiling and balconies along its walls. Along these galleries hang 54 tapestries from the 19th century that decorate the entire vertical space.

Location: Cheltenham Township

Architects: Horace Trumbauer

Architectural style: Gothic Revival

GPS coordinates: 40.09083,-75.16472

Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:29