Growdon Mansion, a historical landmark, sits in the heart of Bensalem, a township that borders the northeast section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
The history of Growdon Mansion dates back to the late 17th century when Cornish brothers Joseph and Lawrence Growdon, a rich pewterer from St Merryn,[1] purchased about 5,000 acres (20 km2) from William Penn. In 1683 Joseph Growdon settled on this land and built a manor for the Growdon family. In 1753, Joseph Growdon's granddaughter Grace Galloway and her husband Joseph Galloway inherited the land. Since women could not own property during this time, Joseph Galloway became the sole proprietor.
Galloway developed the property and built additions to the house. He was a good friend of Benjamin Franklin, and Franklin visited him often, traveling 25 miles from Philadelphia on horseback or by carriage. While a local legend maintains that Franklin performed his famous kite-flying experiment at Growdon Mansion to prove that lightning was the same as static electricity, the broader consensus is that Benjamin Franklin flew his kite closer to his home in Philadelphia. Other significant historical figures such as George Washington and John Adams have also stayed at Growdon Manor.