Radnor: Meeting House, History and Trail

Radnor brings together history, local landmarks and a range of ways to get active. Highlights include Radnor Meeting House, built in 1718, the 2.41-mile Radnor Trail and other historical connections. This can help you decide whether to include Radnor in your travel plans primarily for its history, the activities along the trail or both.

Historic Sites and Local History

Today's Radnor Meeting House was built in 1718 at 610 Conestoga Road. Radnor Meeting is a living testament to the faith of some of Pennsylvania's earliest settlers. During the American Revolutionary War, the building served as headquarters, a hospital and an outpost for the Continental Army during the Valley Forge encampment. These different roles place the site in both a religious and a military-historical context.

Radnorville grew up around the meetinghouse and remained the township's population center for 200 years. The area's history is therefore also tied to the development of its population center. Another historical connection is Conestoga Road: in 1741, its westward extension marked the beginning of Radnor's enduring history as a place travelers passed through. The road eventually connected Philadelphia and Lancaster.

The Sorrel Horse Inn is also part of Radnor's historical stories. It is said to have hosted George Washington and General Lafayette during the Valley Forge encampment. This account adds another connection to the period of the encampment to the area's history.

Radnor Trail: Recreation and Railroad History

The Radnor Trail is 2.41 miles long and is suitable for walking, jogging, hiking, biking and inline skating. Activities range from walking to wheeled pursuits, so the trail is not just a hiking route. Which of these uses takes priority during your visit depends on the activity you have planned.

Along the trail, several information boards mark the sites of former P&W railway stations and explain the history of the former railroad. Alongside the trail's many uses, they bring the area's railroad history into focus. The Meeting House and the boards offer different perspectives: the meetinghouse tells the story of a building and its role in the township, while the trail features former railroad sites and their history.

Getting Around and Visiting

Radnor Station is located at 291 King of Prussia Road. If the station is relevant to your plans, check the latest station information in advance, as details may change.

Radnor Friends Meeting welcomes everyone. The meeting takes place on Sundays at 9:45 a.m.; the service runs from about 10 to 11 a.m. You can attend in person at the meetinghouse. If you plan to attend, check the latest visitor information in advance, as participation requirements may change.

Radnor Township is also home to Radnor Skate Park, an outdoor facility for skateboarding, aggressive inline skating and BMX freestyle riding. Compared with the range of uses for the Radnor Trail, the skate park focuses on three skateboarding- and BMX-related activities. It offers another focus for activities in the township, alongside the trail and the area's historical attractions.

Discover more destinations: Ithan, Chadds Ford, Swarthmore, Springfield, Aldan, Darby, Glen Mills, Rose Valley.

For the broader travel overview: Delaware.