House of the Week: Perfectly Situated, Beautiful Stone Manor in Yardley

By Liz Spikol· 6/20/2013, 2:22 p.m.

What a treasure this is. Lanrick Manor, built around 1704, has beautiful period details throughout its 3,800 square feet, including antique hardware, random-width hardwood floors and five fireplaces, including a walk-in. The front door is original and there are built-ins in the dining room and library. There’s a sunroom that, on sunny days, may compensate for the fact that the third-floor walk-up doesn’t yet have heat–let’s call it a handyman’s challenge.

In addition to the main house, there’s a bank barn with a studio that has heat and air conditioning. The land itself is lovely, and is close–but not too close–to the river. In fact, there’s a highway in between, which some may think of as unattractive, but Yardley homes for sale on River Road can be a risky proposition when heavy rains come. That highway probably keeps this house just far enough away to play it safe.

So what’s the problem? Why won’t it sell? It’s been on the market for a puzzlingly long time–well over a year, which is more than we’d expect even given that it needs some work. Keep in mind, this home is right near SEPTA’s R3 (that’s right–we said, “R3”) as well as I-95. And with a new craft-brew bar, Yardley’s Main Street–also nearby–is experiencing a little renaissance. Yardley is pretty and popular with Philadelphians, and this house is perfectly situated there.