15 Prices Lane

Rose Valley, PA 19063

Welcome to Walton's Forge & Cottage! Rose Valley was designated a historic district by the U.S. Department of Interior in July of 2010 and has recognized Rose Valley as one of the premier arts-and-crafts communities in the United States. In 1901, William Lightfoot Price bought eighty acres in the name of the Rose Valley Association from the bankrupt estate of Antrim Osborne. With the financial backing of a group of wealthy, liberal Philadelphians interested in social reform, Price set about creating the Arts and Crafts movement's vision of "the art that is life". One of the initial founding families were the Walton's. Will & Herbert Walton were relatives of the Price family. Will Walton was an Architect & partnered with Walter Price. Herbert Walton was an artist, sculptor, stonemason, iron craftsman and builder. Herbert "POP" Walton was an integral member of the community, actively involved in Hedgerow Theatre Company and was the creator of all the iron street signs that still exist today! He became the primary Contractor that constructed many of the residences in Rose Valley, including his own home & iron forge at 15-19 Prices Lane. They say, if you see a storybook cottage in Rose Valley, it was likely designed by Will Walton and constructed by Herbert Walton! Set high on the banks above Vernon Run, the stone & stucco cottage is nestled into the hillside with commanding views of the woods & creek far below. The craftsmanship of Herbert Walton is evident everywhere, from the exceptional masonry work to the intricate dormers, exposed ceiling beams, fireplaces, tile work & a most delightful, diminutive front door tucked into a corner of the building. The house seems to just blend into the nature that surrounds it. A full three stories at the rear elevation faces South with an abundance of windows. A fish pond is directly outside of the basement entry. From the front door, there is a foyer to greet your guests. A total of 6 rooms occupy the first floor. Up front, facing the drive, there is a large den with Westerly & Northerly windows, the perfect place to cozy up to a good book. A bedroom is tucked into the other corner of the first floor while a full bathroom & closet is tucked just behind the kitchen. The kitchen has direct access to the side yard & covered porch and cabinets line all 4 walls. There are two fireplaces on the main level & a 4-season sun room encased in windows overlooking the creek & woods. Tucked up under all the varying roof eaves are 4 more large bedrooms & 2 full bathrooms that are each unique! Under the dining room, Herbert Walton designed an amazing garden room that has an entire floor of Mercer tiles, the third wood-burning fireplace and a beamed ceiling. The original 1-car garage was in the basement in one corner of the basement, however that space was converted to a home office by a previous owner. Now, let's take a moment to talk about The Forge! Yes, it is an entirely separate structure, and is now a truly creative & artistic 1-bedroom cottage! Originally constructed to provide a distinct space for Herbert Walton to craft his iron works, the massive fireplace was his forge. A 2-story window fills the entire Northern wall. There is a full bathroom behind the fireplace. Walton created a large loft area above the forge and enclosed the space with a hand-crafted, leaded window wall and embedded it with stained glass of his own creation. Down a custom staircase, the lower level of the cottage now houses the dining room, kitchen and laundry area. The Forge has its own private rear patio area and the remains of a former vegetable garden. A foundation for a detached 1-car garage was completed recently, however the current Owner loved the open space so much, they elected to simply create a framed roof structure and use it for outdoor dining & entertainment! This historic compound is truly unique, will you be the next Steward of Walton's Forge?