Caroline and Brian Linz and their four sons may live in Whitby Hall, an 18th Century stone Georgian house on the Haverford Heritage Trail, but that doesn’t mean they can’t have a warm space to call their own, writes Terri Akman for The Philadelphia Inquirer.

The Linzes live in a home that dates back to 1754. They’ve owned the historic structure since 2016.

Whitby Hall was built by Col. James Coultas, Philadelphia’s high sheriff, who was born in Yorkshire, England, near the town of Whitby.

Word is the home had frequent visits from several dignitaries, including George Washington.

 “We fell in love with the history,” said Caroline, who grew up in Massachusetts also in an 18th Century home. “My mom’s from Chestnut Hill, and this reminded me of some of the homes there.”

The Haverford Historical Society says Whitby Hall was originally built in the Kingsessing section of Philadelphia but when that became overdeveloped in the 1920s, the home was moved to its present Haverford location.

The Linzes were able to renovate the structure to meet the needs of a modern family, while still preserving its historical elements.

 More on this Whitby Hall renovation story is at The Philadelphia Inquirer.