In the early fall of 2014, 5 Loxely Court welcomed a growing family home. They fell in love with the courtyard, just a stroll away from the hospital where their first born would be carried home. It’s no wonder that it was love at first sight. The courtyard is unbeatable. Think Elfreth's Alley, but with more plants and no crowds. Inside the home you’ll find original hardwood floors on the ground floor and high, soaring cathedral ceilings on the top floor. So many historical houses in the area have low ceilings, but this house doesn't.
Speaking of history, the roots of Loxley Court stretch back to the 1740s. According to legend, and local history texts, Ben Franklin borrowed the key to #2 Loxley Court when he conducted his kite-flying electricity experiment near Franklin Square in 1752!
Come take a visit with us to this historic home that has been updated with all the love and convenience of living in Old City in modern days.
5 Loxley Court | 4 bedrooms 2 bathrooms | Old City
What do you love most about where you live?
For us, this is the ideal location. It is close to so many things we value: work, child care and a great public elementary school, historical sites, transit, running along the Delaware River, Franklin Square, restaurants, and shops. It's also nestled in a secluded courtyard, so we felt comfortable having our kids go out and play, without being close to traffic. We love gardening in the courtyard and making friends with our neighbors.
We love it when tour groups come through, led by historic reenactors, and we get to share the history and the present beauty of the courtyard with guests. We also have hosted many Easter egg hunts in the courtyard with area families, and we've even hosted the filming of a TV series.
Describe a Sunday Morning in your home and neighborhood.
Grab a coffee at Old City Coffee or Menagerie and a pastry at Ici, a bagel at Philly Style Bagels, or some shakshuka or French toast at Cafe Ole. Eat at Race St. Pier, Cherry St. Pier, or Franklin Square, then walk over to Reading Terminal, Mom's on 11th, or the new Giant Heirloom at 8th and Market to do some grocery shopping.
What is your favorite room in your house?
We love our kitchen. When we had it renovated, we worked with the designer and construction team on a plan to make the historic cellar kitchen feel cozier. They ripped out the drywall ceiling and exposed the historic beams. We installed brick tiles, put in a new gas insert in the fireplace, and added a lot of hidden storage. We work from home a lot at the island, and it's a comfortable spot to relax and chat while cooking dinner.
What was the best improvement you made to your home and what inspired you to make the change?
The kitchen was a big transformation, but we also renovated the top floor bathroom. The previous layout wasn't very functional. We worked with the same firm that did our kitchen to open up the layout and add a walk-in marble shower with a bench. We're really pleased with how they made use of the small footprint of that room.
What milestones have you accomplished in your home?
Our younger child was born about 6 months after we moved into our home, so walking her home from Pennsylvania Hospital will always be our warmest milestone here. We made great friends with our neighbors and enjoyed planting many flowers in the courtyard together.
Anything else you'd like to share?
Before buying this home we rented in Old City, and it's been exciting to see all the new restaurants and shops open. It's now much easier to get groceries or brunch than it was when we first moved here. A lot of buildings that were previously abandoned or empty lots that had been devoted to parking have been converted to productive uses as homes and businesses, and it's great to see such a walkable, bikeable, transit-accessible neighborhood thrive.