Radcliffe Street
by Chrysa Smith
Welcome to Bristol Borough—a region of Lower Bucks County once coveted for its waterways, ship building and healing mineral baths. An important stopping point between New York City and Philadelphia, the 1700s saw Bristol as the county seat for over forty years. Immigrants and travelers flocked to its shores with hopes of jobs within a bustling industrial economy and a town where railroad and coal met with great opportunity. Yet, in spite of deep historical roots that span more than three centuries, it is still an oft misunderstood, if not undiscovered gem. And at the center of it all lies Radcliffe Street; home to some of the most unique and glorious old residences you will find this side of Philadelphia.
Radcliffe Street lies within yards of and parallel to the Delaware River. Its skyline is distinguishable. Set just upstream from the Burlington-Bristol Bridge, towers and turrets and turned woodwork are telltale signs of its rich Victorian heritage. Once the seat of Bucks County, the region was known for milling, the Pennsylvania Railroad and the 1960s song: The Bristol Stomp. Carpet and wallpaper mills once graced the town. And although its surrounding township has had its share of hardships, the borough remains a preserved time capsule with roots to the Victorian age in all its glory.
To finish reading about these beautiful homes on Radcliffe Street in Bristol, turn to page 67 in the Fall issue of Bucks County Magazine.