Penshurst, Lower Merion Township, PA

Built for Percival Roberts in 1901, the mansion also was part of a 500 acre estate. 75 rooms of splendor for Mr. Roberts and his wife Bessye and their two sons. Unfortunately the great mansion did not know much happiness when their sons died early and the couple retreated into a quiet existence. After many years of living there Mr. Roberts felt it was all too much for two people.

The final straw was when the township wanted to erect an incinerator plant nearby and its smokestack would be part of the perfect country side view the Roberts had enjoyed. After losing a legal battle to prevent the plant from being built, Mr. Roberts decided to be rid of the whole thing and had the mansion torn down in 1940. Mr. & Mrs. Roberts then moved to a hotel to live more easily until they both died a few years after.