Campbell Soup Heir’s One-Time Family Estate in Pennsylvania to Sell at Auction

Linden Hill, a grand property in the Philadelphia suburbs that was home to the heirs of the Campbell Soup fortune for 50 years is headed to auction next month.

Robert Burch, a venture capitalist and former brother-in-law of designer Tory Burch, is selling the French Norman-style stone mansion, which spans some 14,467 square feet, and its accompanying 26.3 acres in the town of Gladwyne, according to Interluxe, which is handling the auction.

“We are really hoping we find someone that can fall in love with this property the way we have,” Robert Burch said.

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The home was built by architect Edmund G. Gilchrist between 1928 to 1931 for stockbroker Rodman Ellison Griscom. The Dorrance family—whose forebearer, chemist John T. Dorrance, who discovered how to condense soup at a commercial scale—purchased the property in the 1950s and stayed until the mid-1990s. Burch bought it in 1998 from a different owner, he said.

The property has been on and off the market for years, listing at various times as a whole or in parts for as much as $24.5 million.

Across the entire property, there are 19 bedrooms, 15 bathrooms, and two partial bathrooms, though a bedroom count is slightly up to interpretation, as what some might consider to be a bedroom could also work as an office or playroom, according to a spokeswoman for Interluxe.

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The main residence, Linden Hill Estate, stands on over 13 acres and is inspired by the French Normandy design style and offers multiple modern amenities. The rooms feature high ceilings, French doors, terraces, original floors and molding throughout, including restored hand-crafted millwork.

There is also a detached guest house with two bedrooms. The estate’s outdoor amenities include two pools—a family swimming pool adjacent to the house and an entertainment swimming pool—a tennis court, decorative gardens, and grounds to grow vegetables or flowers.

The main house can be purchased together with an adjacent property that Interluxe is calling Linden Hill Court. It spans over 12 acres and includes two more houses: a primary house with four bedrooms and two bathrooms; and a guest house with two bedrooms and two bathrooms. According to Interluxe, Linden Hill Court offers modern amenities plus secluded grounds, open pastures, stone outbuildings, gardens, and stone and brick walls dividing the areas.

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This 12-acre parcel also has a 10-car garage, a maintenance building, a woodwork shop, a two-stall barn, and more.

The auction will run online on May 20-21.The Linden Hill Court, will be offered with a starting bid of $1.5 million, and the Linden Hill Estate will be offered with a starting bid of $2 million. There is a $100,000 bidder deposit required.

Burch said the property has been a great place to raise a family, and the property also offers a camping site and pond.

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“The kids were drawn to the fact that it had a big yard, outdoors, and everyone got their own room. It is very liveable, it is the kind of place that has scale but also is very friendly,” said Burch.

Burch’s favorite part of the property is the magical center courtyard.

“The original fountain is there and a bust of a beautiful woman looking over the family’s entrance,” said Burch. “It’s a very poetic place.”

While living on the property, not only did Burch have five children, but kept animals from peacocks, draft horses, pet chickens to “every version of dog imaginable.”

This article first appeared on Mansion Global