Tacking Up Thorncroft: A History

Below is the history behind the land and family of Thorncroft written by Sydney Francis:

Tacking Up Thorncroft

In 1825 Henry Purdy, an oyster huckster, and his wife, Priscilla, purchased a small, four acre plot of land in Ardmore, Pennsylvania on Montgomery Avenue. The Purdys built a charming white house, but was later demolished when Dr. William Anderson bought the property. However, Dr. Anderson constructed a cozy cottage on the land, and resold it to Mr. Blumner. Yet, Blumner envisioned a grand estate- one that would prominently overlook the townsfolk in their locomotives as they drove by. His project proved to be wonderfully successful, resulting in a large and impressive gray stone edifice, surrounded by a piazza, and framed with stunning dormer windows and striking chimneys. One can envision the mansions dominant presence over the street gawkers and passersby, since it resided there until 1926.

Edwin Dixon, Saunders' Grandfather

After dwelling on the estate, Mr. Blumner sold to Mr. Allen Bearly Rorke, a Philadelphia builder and contractor. Rorke had been looking for a country house in the rural lands of Ardmore. His wife, Mrs. Elizabeth Thorncroft Rorke, not only embellished and improved the residence, but personalized it by naming the house “Thorncroft” in memory of her English heritage. The Rorke’s built an impressive porte-cochere along with artistic stables, whose gleaming red tile roof shone in the sunlight. Surrounding the mansion were massive stone gateposts and a luxurious lawn encompassing a natural terrace. The property no longer resembled the cozy cottage built by Dr. Anderson! Mr. Rorke eventually sold the house to Edwin Saunders Dixon Sr., but after his death in 1920, Dixon left the house to two of his sons, Edwin Saunders Jr. and Morris H. But, Edwin Jr. wanted to live on a large farm, and the mere four acres was not enough. So, he looked westward at a plot of land Morris owned in Malvern, PA, and bought the entire 180-acres from his brother.  Edwin Jr. and Morris decided to sell the Ardmore property in 1926 to the Suburban Square Co., who used the land to construct the first shopping center in the United States. In Malvern, Edwin Saunders Jr. resided peacefully in the countryside with his wife, Florence, and children, Sally Hopkins and Edwin Saunders Dixon III (“Saunders”). After his death, Edwin Saunders Jr. left the property to Saunders, who would later use seventy-five of the acres to establish Thorncroft Equestrian Center. 

ABC 6 Comes Out to TEC!

On May 26, 2012 Thorncroft hosted the Handicapped Riders Division of the Devon Horse Show. Nearly 200 riders with special needs came to compete in dressage, trail, equitation and jumping classes. Here is a clip from Philadelphia's ABC 6 news crew who covered the event during its nightly news report

Land Matters, Summer/Spring 2012

Below is a transcription from Thorncroft's profile in Land Matters Summer/Spring 2012 edition:

"Sixty acres of rolling fields, wetlands and woodlands, home to Thorncroft Equestrian Center, will remain in its present state forever, thanks to collaboration among the Trust, Thorncroft and numerous public and private funders. Nearly $2 million in grants and donations were secured to purchase the conservation easements, with Chester County and the PA. Departments of Community and Economic Development and Conservation and Natural Resources providing $803,000. Private foundations and donations closed the gap and the easements were signed on April 26 at the Farm, which is the original homestead of Thorncroft founder and Director, Saunders Dixon. Saunders and his wife, Sallie, who serves as Director of Operations, initiated the project by donating an easement on their 10-acre parcel in 2010, which lies in the middle of the Thorncroft lands. In addition to the open space preservation, a half-mile non-motorized public trail will provide a safe off-road route for horses, bicyclists and pedestrians, linking three farms, two preserves, two parks and municipal open space. 

Nearly two years in the making, this project was significant for a variety of reasons. The Trust, founded in 1967 and Thorncroft in 1969, both strive to enhance the quality of life for able-bodied and disabled people through their respective land protection initiatives and therapeutic horseback riding programs. Their missions converged through this project, with the land that supports the therapy horses conserved in perpetuity, enabling the growth of their valuable services. For the Trust, it was an immensely rewarding experience on a personal and professional level, as the service that Thorncroft provides is so impactful and the number of partners involved gave special meaning to everyone's efforts. 

Trust Conservation Director Pam Brown noted that "this is one of the most rewarding projects I have been involved in since I began working for the Trust in 2004. Not only is the land beautiful and environmentally sensitive, the serves that Thorncroft provides are extraordinary. ll you have to do is see one disabled person's smile as they are carried down the trail into the woods by a therapy horse, and you are instantly engaged."

Thorncroft Talks

Thorncroft at its most basic is a non-profit therapeutic equestrian center. However, at Thorncroft, while we may start with the basics, we do not stop there. In fact, we do not stop at all. We do not stop because there is never a time to cease encouragement; there is never a time when support and love expire. Thorncroft enhances the lives of everyone, training able-bodied individuals and those with special needs.  Just as Thorncroft uses horses, so too will this blog. This blog will share stories of horses and riders from riders as well as giving up-to-date inside information of events and daily routines at Thorncroft. More than an organization, Thorncroft flourishes because its nourished as a community; and as any successful community, we foster an environment of open dialogue and constant communication. If it’s a moment between a rider and a horse or a rider and instructor, we always strive for communication. Here, we encourage every person that volunteers or rides at Thorncroft to share some of their most favorite stories!