Historic Londontowne, Md.: Part 5: Willam Brown House and a Poor House

William Brown's House

In this 5th blog about the mysterious disappearing Maryland colonial port town called Londontowne, we'll take you to the only existing brick house, owned by a William Brown, a man who had a number of professions. Later this house would be used to house the poor.

WHO WAS WILLIAM BROWN? He was a ferry master, a tavern keeper, a cabinetmaker and a "joiner." All of these skills helped him as a building contractor. He was also a supporter of the American Revolution.

Looking at the home from the South River

HAVING SEVERAL JOBS - In Londontowne's colonial days, it was common to have more than one job.


WILLIAM BROWN AND 1776 - That year, American troops brought goverment records from Annapolis to Brown's house for safekeeping!

ABOUT THE HOUSE - This brick mansion is a two story house with 13 windows in the front and 12 in the back, and 7 on each of the sides. That's a lot of windows in a 1700s home.

Parlor setting

It was built between 1758 and 1764 overlooking the South River, so he had the perfect view! Brown lived in the house with his family and also operated a tavern out of it!

Today, it's  an historic landmark.



TEA WAS A LUXURY - Because tea had to be imported, it was a luxury in the 1600 and 1700s. In the parlor there was a wooden box with a lock on it. Within were imported teas. They were so expensive that they were kept in a locked box!

A guest room

FURNITURE WITHIN  - None of the furniture is original. It's all recreated to be of the period.   

ALMSHOUSE PERIOD- This house was turned into a house for the poor. In 1768, the Maryland General Assembly passed a law requiring several counties, including Anne Arundel, to establish almshouses. The purpose of the almshouse was to give shelter and work to the county’s poor. The funds to run the almshouse came from taxes that were levied on the citizens of the county. This was a common method of dealing with the poor, the mentally ill, and those people who needed to be reformed.
   So, James Larrimore, the owner of the William Brown House at London Town, sold the building and surrounding 10 acres to the county for $2,500 for use as an almshouse.

The William Bron House Kitchen

  All men, women, and children lived in the large brick structure (known as the William Brown House). Women lived on the 3rd floor, while the men inhabited the rooms in the basement.

The parlor

    In 1906, the building was turned into a home for the impoverished and  elderly. There were fourteen elderly people still living in the Anne Arundel County Home when it closed in 1965 when Social Security Act Amendments were passed, creating Medicare and Medicaid and homeless shelters as we now know them.


NEXT: The Gardens and Cool Visitor's Center

First floor hallway

The cellar

Master bedroom on the first floor