Questers Groups Award Project Grants To Mercer Museum, Fonthill Castle

DOYLESTOWN, PA — Thanks to donations from seven chapters of the Bucks County Questers, textile projects have been completed at the Mercer Museum & Fonthill Castle adding significantly to the richness and color of the interiors.

In 2022, the Fonthill Questers chapter donated $2,000 to support the acquisition of replica floor coverings for four rooms at the Fonthill Castle. The founder of Fonthill Castle, Henry Chapman Mercer, incorporated small rugs in many of the bedrooms – all of which are in poor condition and can no longer be displayed.

To provide guests with a more accurate impression of the castle’s interiors, the donation from the Questers enabled the museum to acquire several high-quality modern carpets with similar colors and patterns to the originals.

Fonthill Castle East Room with replica coverlet and carpet. (Bucks County Historical Society)

The Questers is a state, national and international organization, organized into local chapters, and
dedicated to promoting education, history and the preservation of historic sites and artifacts.

Over many years, Questers chapters have made significant contributions toward conservation,
reproduction and other preservation efforts at the Mercer Museum and Fonthill Castle, according to the Bucks County Historical Society which manages the properties.

Fonthill Castle’s original bed coverings had also suffered from damage due to light, moisture,
dust, humidity and wear. Two Questers groups, the Lingohocken and Round Meadow Run chapters, combined to contribute $1,000 toward the acquisition of replica bedspreads and coverlets for the castle’s Dormer, Terrace, West and East Bedrooms.

Fonthill Castle East Room with reproduction draperies. (Bucks County Historical Society)

Finally, four Questers chapters – Mercer Mile, Marquis, Neshaminy Creekers and Ye Olde Almshouse – collaborated to support the reproduction of new draperies for the Yellow Room.
These draperies are replicas of the originals, comprised of similar materials and featuring the
same color scheme.

Grants totaling $7,000 enabled the museum to purchase new peach and gold damask fabric, in a pattern very similar to the original drapes. This fabric, with added corduroy borders to match the originals, was then sewn into new draperies for the room.

The Bucks County Historical Society appreciates the generosity of all of these Questers groups,
as well as that of the Pennsylvania State Questers organization which provided additional grant
funds to match the contributions of the local chapters. The replica draperies, carpets and
bedding provide a more accurate and authentic impression of Henry Mercer’s original interiors,
and may be seen by guests touring his landmark 1908-1912 Fonthill “castle for the New World.”