It seems evident that the building [Lanrick Manor] was originally only the east (down-river) section, built "very early" on the l8th century ferry estate by Thomas Yardley... and this down-river section was the ferry house, on the site confirmed May 22,1722, by Act of Pennsylvania Assembly...

Originally 2~rooms; small section (partition where south suppressed beam lies) is entrance room with an inside pump (area below in cellar has no floor but has been filled in with earth) no doubt a doorway in partition gave entrance to main room with stairway (built-in enclosed) against north wall since removed, and wall-in fireplace on front (river) section of south wall. All present Windows above and below seem to be original as framing is uniform of rough wood, sill and side bands to top also of rough wood (at present stained brown). Some very old glass in each of 4 full sash windows; casement closing of small also rough wood but latch is of 19th century. [[Catharine Belville recounted how as a child, looking through the old ["wavy glass"] windows on the downriver side of her house, she watched trains seemingly moving up and down as they traveled across the bridge]]

Second floor originally two rooms with partition in about location of first floor; stairway opening faces south wall leaving space for person to get into south room from north end of the house. Partition has been removed (l893) this floor is one large room but the built-in stairway remains from 2nd to 3rd floors running from...

The house is obviously a two section building, there being a double wall between the south room and the two north including the hall. There is no change in the roof line however, but in addition to the 3 dormers in the front, 3rd floor, there are two full windows in the south gable end which run to the floor, while only two very small a foot above the floor in the north gable.

Other evidence of two separate buildings (though attached) are the built-in stairway from the 2nd to the 3rd floor in the south end, (that from the 1st to the 2nd having been removed in 1893 with renovation). At this time the wrought iron doors of the walk-in fireplace on the south wall of the floor were removed and a fireplace with granite mantle shelf and brown unglazed brick was installed on hearth sides and back accommodating 4 foot legs.

This south room has been two; an entering room with pump (cellar underneath not floored over rubble that fills dug well space). Three exposed beams give the present new one room the "traditional look". Woodwork is very simple, even rough and was obviously that of a "shelter" area and since the Yardley's Ferry was close by [yes, it was only , this section is thought to have been the ferry house. Upstairs the two rooms in 1893 were thrown into one but on the 3rd floor the two rooms remain.

Windows 6 and 9 above throughout with some original pane remaining. Floors 2nd and 3rd very wide random boards with many knotholes, on the 2nd the partition having been installed after flooring was completed for in the present single room is no evidence of interruption in the laying of the flooring.

In the remaining built-in stairway from the 2nd to 3rd floor the partition wall is plastered on the room side, while on stairway side the facing wooden boards - they extend above the 3rd floor to almost waist height, this protecting the stairwell.

We copied a newspaper article found in a cabinet drawer of the Yardley Library soon fter they moved to Lower Makefield Township. The article ran in two issues, and the name of the newspaper was not identified. The first half of the first issue is missing, and we only have the first 23 newspaper lines of the part about the Belville Home.

In 1923-24 Clayton writes:   "The Belville home along the Delaware, known as 'Lanrick Manor,' is another very interesting old property. It has been estimated by an expert on colonial architecture, who is familiar with other buildings of the colonial type in this vicinity, that this house was built about 1735 or 1740. The ownership of the property at that time cannot be traced as the records were destroyed by fire. Jolly Longshore was the first owner of record and he lived there for a number of years. It is a very quaint and interesting old stone house which was originally only about two-thirds of its present size. The walls are about 18 inches thick and the inside wood work is all beautifully hand-wrought and put together with pegs instead of nails; The glasses in the windows are even hand made. There is a large colonial front door, with a fan shaped..."