Moravian Pottery & Tile Works Museum

I didn’t realize that what I was seeing as we drove up was our destination. It was of course visually unique, but I also felt an immediate familiarity about the place. Once we listened to the introductory film I immediately knew what it was. Henry Mercer was well traveled, one of the places he took his inspiration for his castle from was the missions he visited in California. I am from CA and subconsciously recognized that. It was a fun realization. I loved everything about this place, it spoke to my creative side. I wanted to move right in and start making tiles.🤣. My husband did finally pull me out, but not before I purchased some tiles to use at home.

I was here during a Halloween festival and Fonthill's open meander days. Definitely do a tour of the tileworks and/or talk to the docents. Interesting history plus they still do commissions today. Definitely do a tour of the castle next door too.

Great tour with welcoming staff dedicated to preserving the legacy of Henry Mercer. The experience begins with a short documentary that provides an excellent overview of Mercer’s life, the property’s development, and the tile-making process. From there, you take a self-guided tour through the facility, ending with an artist actively creating new tiles. The craftsmanship and history are fascinating, and the gift shop is outstanding—beautiful pieces and a perfect way to take home a bit of Mercer’s artistry.

Very interesting tour of Henry Mercers Tile Works, which started in the 1800s. He not only patented these methods, but produced beautiful tiles that tell a story as well. From his original tools, kilns/furnaces, as well as equipment and methods they are still using today on a small scale. You can purchase many of tge decorative tiles, or commusion work here today. Lots of history, a nice self guided tour through the facility, which starts with a documentary about how he started, to the end of his life and beyond.

A very unique experience. The staff was very informative and helpful. The gift shop was amazing. You can even make a worry doll that they will eventually sell in the shop.

Really glad I made the trip to the Moravian Pottery & Tile Works Museum—definitely recommend visiting at least once, whether you're a local or just passing through Bucks County. There's a lot of fascinating craftsmanship here, and it’s one of those places where you get a real sense of history and art coming together. Buy tickets in advance. Not only does it make entry easier, but they can sometimes sell out, especially on weekends. Getting there can be a little tricky if you're using GPS—when you see the first castle-looking structure, keep going; the museum is just beyond that. The visit starts in a main room where you're shown a short video about Henry Mercer and the tile-making tradition. From there, you’re free to tour the space at your own pace. In several rooms, artisans demonstrate how the tiles are made... many still using local Bucks County clay, just like in Mercer's time. You’ll see examples of Mercer’s tiles that were used in places like Fonthill Castle (his former home), and the artistry is truly impressive. I easily spent an hour and a half here just soaking it all in. There’s also a lovely little gift shop with handmade tiles made in the museum. I was especially hoping to find a pineapple tile or bowl—would’ve been perfect for a housewarming gift; alas, no luck this time. Still, lots of beautiful designs to choose from. A charming, informative, and beautifully preserved piece of local history.

Moravian Pottery & Tile Works Museum, founded in 1898 by Henry Chapman Mercer, preserves a unique legacy of handcrafted tile production using techniques like ancient press and kiln methods. This museum remains a living workshop, where artisans actively produce decorative tiles on original equipment, making history tangible in every piece. The facility, housed in a rustic workshop in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, feels like stepping into Mercer’s vision of an early‑20th‑century arts community. Every tile displays intricate glazes and historic motifs, from Colonial American patterns to Arts & Crafts influences. Watching the potters and glazers at work is both mesmerizing and educational—offering an insider’s look into material-driven creativity. The on-site museum gallery and interpretive displays trace the beginnings of tile-making in America, Mercer’s fascination with archaeology, and his passion for preserving folk art. There’s also a charming retail area where you can purchase unique, handcrafted tiles and pottery items. This museum is a hidden gem for art lovers, history enthusiasts, and anyone who appreciates hands-on creativity and heritage craft. Highly recommended for its authenticity, artistry, and enduring inspiration.

This was a really cool place to visit! It has an amazing history with lots to see. Wonderful art throughout!

Last minute discovery this place existed, so we did a U-turn and found this place easily. We didn't have time for a full tour, so sadly we just popped in to take a look through the windows and pop into the shop. I was in love with so many unique pieces! Obviously, the talent here is out of this world, and the shop only had a small sampling of the quality of work. Many of the pieces ranged from $20-$50, depending on the size, style and glazing. Some of the more unique pieces ranged upwards over $100 each. Well worth it for quality artisan work.

Tiny shop full of whimsical tiles and decor. Loved everything inside. Great gift ideas for that person who appreciates fine craftsmanship.

One of the most wonderful treasures in the state... Is this very place! By all means get yourself a ticket in tour of this wonderful Moravian pottery and tile works! This is such a special place. They've made tiles here that have traveled around the world. And grace the font hill mansion as well as in the BETHLEHEM HOTEL. So many places. (･･) It's such a special creative place and so special to the state & for this country. I go crazy in this gift shop too. I had to buy a couple of tiles even today. Look in the newspaper for a coupon and even if there's no coupon I recommend a tour!!

Visiting a living tile history museum place is not something that would ever top my list of things I really want to do on a Saturday afternoon. But there we were exploring Bucks County and this was close, cheap.... and I have been trying to convince my partner we need a tiled backsplash in the kitchen. At any rate, let me tell you this is a super cool spot! $5 gets you past the gift shop and into the tour area. You start off watching a video about the history of the place and its founder Henry Mercer. Afterwards you get to take a self-guided tour (the best kind!) all around the place. Up the stairs to a balcony, into various rooms with all kinds of cool old stuff and just tons of gorgeous tiles everywhere. There are plaques and pictures that describe the history and process further. You end up down in an area where tiles are still hand made, ultimately available for purchase online or in the gift shop. Maybe I'm older and more domesticated these days that I find this place so appealing, or maybe it's just a really neat place that merges history with working craftsmanship resulting in a beautiful product. I wholeheartedly recommend a visit either way.

Very poorly marked entrance for the first time visitor. Big penalty for not turning in..

Excellent preservation of a working encaustic & relief hand-made tile factory. Keeping the art and working knowledge of handmade tile alive is not an easy feat or undertaking. After a brief 20min video overview- it's a self-guided tour at your own pace. During your walk through, any questions you have are likely to be answered by a couple of the people who are still working and making tiles in the factory. This is a good intro before taking a tour at Fonthill to give a deeper appreciation of what's inside the castle as well.

The Moravian Pottery & Tile Works is an excellent stop if you're visiting New Hope, PA or Lambertville, NJ. Especially if you combine it with a trip to the Fonthill Museum (basically right next door) and the Mercer Museum, also nearby. All three fascinating places were designed and built by Henry Mercer, a wealthy, creative eccentric and champion of the Arts & Crafts Movement. It's probably best to see the Fonthill Museum before the Moravian Tile Works for the additional context, but it's not necessary. (I haven't yet been to the Mercer Museum, but apparently, Henry Ford once said it was the only museum worth visiting in the U.S. It houses more than 40,000 artifacts from early American society.) What's so amazing about tiles, you ask? I thought the same thing at first. Moravian is a living museum: The processes developed more than 100 years ago are still in use, largely unchanged, and the results are as unique now as then. Interesting historical tidbits pepper the self-guided tour: after watching a background video, guests can roam the building and visit with the tilemakers making new pieces. There's also a shop with a variety of styles and subjects. By the time you leave, you can't help but wonder why Mercer isn't more well known. Then again, it's nice to have places like this that provide a few surprises and a change of pace from more traditional museums and galleries. Highly recommended.

The Moravian Pottery and Tile Works is an interesting and intriguing place. The building looks out of place in the landscape, almost like something you'd see in a fantasy movie. As you enter, you see that some of the tiles manufactured there are used in the walls of the walkway. The museum has a shop that offers tiles that were made by the artisans at the site. They are all reproductions of tiles that were originally made when the Tile Works were originally functioning. There is a wide variety of styles and they are affordably priced for a hand crafted item. The reason my rating is only three star is the attitude and lack of helpfulness from the staff. I had asked a question about one of the tile patterns and was given attitude about the fact that I asked. At the back of the shop, there is an area where you can create your own work using the tiles, letters, borders, etc. I asked the clerk how it worked and you could tell she couldn't be bothered. The signs were not very clear and I was asking for an approximate piece if I purchased the piece I had laid out. She would not give me a straight answer and you could tell she did not want to do the work that was associated with this special order project. Upon checking out, the service was not any friendlier and she reminded us twice that the shop was closing in five minutes. This reminder came as we were AT the checkout in the process of checking out. If you are in the area and looking for something that is unique to the region, do make a stop here. Just don't expect to be served with a smile by those staffing the shop.

I used to work at the Mercer Museum - as a summer day camp counselor and arts & crafts supervisor MANY, many years ago. I don't know if they run a kids sumer program here any mroe - but the one they used to have was great. Anyhow, the Moravian Pottery & Tile works was built of steel reinforced concrete by Henry Chapman Mercer to erve as his workshop and still produces lots of gorgeous tiles to this day.. Kids and Adults can both learn from Mercer - either here or at his home, Fontill next door. You can also get married on the grounds and it's a great place to have a picnic in the summer or fall.

I was happy to learn that Moravian Tile Works was open for tours during the pandemic. We were eager to get out of the house and this seemed like an interesting option. The price is reasonable and I felt like they made necessary accommodations to keep us safe. The tours are limited to four people, you are required to wear masks and social distant. The staff was kind and knowledgable. My favorite part was the tile shop, where you can buy something to take home. A pretty unique experience.

This place is a must-see if you're looking for something different to do north of Philly. Check out the "castle" (Fonthill) and the Pottery & Tile Works. On the Fonthill tour, you'll learn all about Henry Chapman Mercer -- an interesting guy living off his aunt's money and doing all sorts of crazy things. He collected tiles and made his own, and built a gigantic concrete castle. I've been twice, and each tour was fascinating and reflected the interests of my tour guides. You do have to stay with the group, and you might get scolded for straying too far behind. The Tile Works is more hands-on, allowing you to touch and move at your own pace. Some of the tiles are produced in groups to make large mosaics and tell stories.

Interesting site with a self guided tour that begins every half hour. Admission is $5/adults and $3 for kids over 7. Mercer's devotion to Pennsylvania culture and the arts and crafts movement make an interesting combination.

Next door to Fonthill, this place was built by Henry Mercer to manufacture many of the tiles displayed next door. There's a video to watch, then a self-guided tour. All concrete, it's still operational and you can talk to the craftspeople. Worth a visit, especially if you've been to the other Mercer sites.

Very old, big tile factory. Owned by Henry Mercer (died 1930) who hired people to make tile. has a 1923 steam train coal burner, a balcony, and a tile place. The 2nd floor is made of stone! I like how they still make tile here today!!!