E Drive

Growden Mansion is named for the family who once owned three quarters of all the land in what is now Bensalem Township. This occurred when Lawrence and Joseph Growden each purchased 5,000 acres from William Penn. While Lawrence never came to the colonies, Joseph did and arrived in 1683 to establish both their claims to the land. Joseph built a home which was later expanded upon by his son, Lawrence, about 1730. This home was called “Trevose” or “The Manor of Bensalem”. The home later became the property of Grace Growden, the granddaughter of Joseph Growden. Grace married Joseph Galloway in 1753 and since married women of this era were not allowed to own property, Joseph Galloway automatically became the owner of “Trevose.” Galloway and Benjamin Franklin were good friends and history tells of many visits by Franklin to the Galloway estate. Parts of the home have very interesting histories in their own right. The west side structure was the home of Richard Gibbs and his family until he left and established his own home called “Eddington”. The east side was used as the servants’ quarters and is where the kitchen, with its large fireplace, was used for cooking. The small stone structure near the east wing is called “The Vault” since this is where the County records were once stored and it still bears bullet holes from the Revolutionary War. More information on the Growdens and their home can be found in the book, “Traveling Through Bensalem, 1682-1984.” (Credit: The Historical Society of Bensalem Township)