Mom and I loved our self guided tour of this fascinating art tile factory. You get to see the tiles made the way the founder did. The building is so cool and you can buy hand crafted pottery. Loved it! read more

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A "working museum," Moravian Pottery & Tile Works was founded and built by Henry Chapman Mercer in the early twentieth century, and the facility still produces handmade tiles using techniques that Mercer developed, and reproductions are crafted using his original molds and locally sourced clay. You can show up and just shop in their store (lots of tiles to choose from) or you can take a tour. The tour starts with a video (a pretty old one!) that explains the history and the architecture of the tile works and the process used by the tileworks to make its tile (pretty much the same as 100 year ago). Then you can wander through the self-guided tour path and see a demonstration of some tiles being pressed and talk to the staff about the tiles and process. It's definitely one of the many places worth visiting in Doylestown. It makes a great day or weekend trip combined with some of Doylestown's other attractions (like Mercer's home Fonthill, which is just next door, and the museum he founded in town). The tiles are beautiful, and it was great to learn and see how they're made! read more

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OK to be honest this review is from when I visited as a young child about 50 years ago lol. However, the atmosphere and smell and beauty of the tiles have stuck with me forever. This is definitely a place worth visiting in my opinion. read more

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. read more

The tour of the Moravian Pottery & Tile Works is a living example treasure for American Craft Scholar and Studio Artist. I is amazing that this facility still exist and in in full operation as the founder and builder Henry Chapman Mercer had created. read more

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!! read more

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

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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. read more

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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. read more

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last week, i visited the tile works--i was trying to find a unique valentine's gift for my wife and i was able to do that--they had some cool heart-shaped tiles in a shop that sells all kinds of tiles. i understand that they will custom make tiles for your house or special projects, which is very cool. while i was there, i decided to go on a tour b/c it also is a museum--well, at least that is what the signs say. the cost of the tour was $15 and maybe i wasn't paying attention but the "museum tour" consisted of being taken into a large room, seated in front of a video (poor quality film) about the origins of the site, and instructed to, "go up those stairs after the movie is over for your self-guided tour." when i got to the area where the tile makers were working on tiles, the people there were friendly and happy to answer questions, but i left feeling upset about paying $15 for watching a bad video, taking a walk through a cold crumbling building, reading some signs, and seeing guys in aprons working on tiles. is this actually a museum? are there any rules about who can call themselves a museum? last year, for the same price, in the same town, i went on a tour of fonthill castle, which is next door and the experience was great--not sure fonthill is a museum, but it was much more like a museum experience: the tour guides were knowledgeable (and stayed with me the whole time), i learned a lot about the house and history of the owner and era in which it was built. anyway, i give the tile works two stars because the tile shop was excellent, but the "working history museum" gets a negative score. it was decidedly not a museum from my perspective; save your $15 and spend it on buying a nicer tile. read more

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. read more

Moravian Pottery & Tile Works - Moravian Pottery & Tile Works - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Doylestown, Pennsylvania

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. read more

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. read more

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. read more

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. read more

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. read more

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. read more

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!!! read more