William Birch's Views of Philadelphia of 1800 shows several freestanding up-to-the minute city houses, all of which have been demolished, leaving this structure as the only example of the type. The original house was built in 1786 and largely rebuilt in 1815 for Dr. Physick. At that time it was transformed into a showplace of the fashionable Adam-influenced style, as exemplified by the thinness and delicacy of the leaded fanlight over the door (others before had been of wood), the fineness of the brickwork, and the largeness of the windows looking out into the garden. It was restored 1965–1966 by George Roberts for the Philadelphia Society for the Preservation of Landmarks.