History of Yardley

Historic Yardley

Yardley Borough is located on a pristine section of the Delaware River and is bisected by the Delaware Canal. Idyllic Lake Afton forms the center of town. Yardley’s restaurants are located on or near these scenic waterways and are accessible to hikers and bikers. The town provides a great atmosphere for a before or after dinner stroll through its scenic and historic streets.

Bucks County is rich in history and abounds in family activities. A visit to Yardley’s eclectic dining establishments could be paired with a trip to Sesame Place near the Oxford Valley Mall or a tour of Washington Crossing Historic Park, just 3 miles up the Delaware River.

Yardley Borough is conveniently located off Exit 8 of I-295. The borough has a Septa Regional Rail Train Station serviced by the West Trenton line to and from Philadelphia and surrounding communities. New Jersey Transit’s Trenton Train Station is a short drive for visitors from the Princeton or New York City areas.

Yardley was settled by William Yeardley (as the name was then spelled), a Quaker minister seeking religious freedom who emigrated to American from England with his wife, three sons and a servant in July 1682. Before leaving England, he made an agreement with William Penn to purchase a 519-acre tract for ten pounds sterling. He settled on Dolington Road and built a log cabin and later a stone house called “Prospect Farm”. The Yardley family occupied the land for more than 150 years.