London Town Publik House

London Town Publik House is a two-story brick building with an elevated basement and substantial chimneys at each end of its hip roof. The interior features a wide central hallway with connecting side rooms that create distinct zones throughout the structure.

Built in 1764 by William Brown, it operated as a tavern near a ferry crossing on the main trade route between Williamsburg and Philadelphia. The location made it a natural stopping point for travelers moving along this important colonial corridor.

The interior layout with a wide central hall and connecting side rooms reflects how colonial taverns were designed to host travelers and locals in different spaces. This arrangement shows how people naturally separated public socializing from more private activities.

The house sits northeast of Woodland Beach in Edgewater, Maryland, accessed via Londontown Road. It operates today as a museum within a larger historic complex that also includes gardens and grounds to explore.

From 1828 to 1965, the building served as the county alms house, shifting from a commercial hub to a place of social care. This unexpected second life reveals how colonial structures adapted to changing community needs across nearly 140 years.