A 32-acre living history museum, nature trails and community gardens, tucked into the heart of the Barclay Farm neighborhood.
By Jerry Mac, Keller Williams Realty
Tucked into the Barclay Farm neighborhood, just off the busy Route 70 and I-295 area, there is a 32-acre piece of Cherry Hill that looks very much like it did two centuries ago. The Barclay Farmstead is a Quaker farmhouse museum, a set of nature trails and a community garden, all owned and run by Cherry Hill Township. I'm Jerry Mac with Keller Williams Realty, and after 23 years selling homes in Cherry Hill, it is one of the places I point newcomers to first. Here is what to know before you go.
Barclay Farmstead at a Glance
A Short History of the Farmstead
According to the township, only a handful of families have held title to this land since it was first surveyed almost 300 years ago.
- Early 1680s: John Kay, an immigrant from Great Britain, settled here. His home was used for Quaker meetings, alternating with another Cherry Hill home, until 1721.
- 1816: Joseph Thorn bought 168 acres and built the house that stands today. His family of eight lived here until the property was sold at a sheriff's sale in 1826.
- 1826 and after: Joseph W. Cooper, a descendant of the founder of Camden and the owner of the Cooper Ferry, bought the property as a gentleman's farm. It stayed in the family through Ellen Cooper Barclay, her son Walter and Walter's daughter Helen.
- 1950s: Helen Barclay sold much of the original farm to well-known builder Bob Scarborough, who developed it into the Barclay Farm residential community that now surrounds the Farmstead.
- 1974: Cherry Hill Township bought the Farmstead, and community members worked hard to restore the farmhouse.
If the name Scarborough sounds familiar, he is also the builder the neighborhood's red covered bridge is named for. You can read that story in my guide to the Scarborough Covered Bridge in Barclay Farms.
What You Can Do at Barclay Farmstead
Tour the farmhouse
Public tours run on Wednesday afternoons from March through November, and the township also offers group tours.
Walk the nature trails
Interpretive trails wind through the property, and the township has a trail map you can download from its site.
See the Plant-A-Patch gardens
This community garden program lets residents tend their own plots on the grounds. The township runs a waitlist, so if you want a plot, sign up through the township's Plant-A-Patch page.
Visit the herb garden
The township lists an herb garden as part of the Farmstead.
Try the family scavenger activity
The township offers a self-guided scavenger activity for kids and families.
Come for Holiday House
The township's calendar listed Holiday House ("Hearth, History and Holiday Glow") for Friday and Saturday, November 27 and 28, 2026, with tickets sold through the Friends of Barclay Farmstead. Check the township's Holiday House page for the current details.
Volunteer
The Friends of Barclay Farmstead and the township are always looking for tour guides and helpers. Call 856-488-7868 or email barclay@chnj.gov.
Living Near the Barclay Farmstead
The Farmstead is part of what gives the Barclay Farm area its character: mature trees, sidewalks, parks and a little bit of real history right in the neighborhood. Buyers who love that feel often ask me about homes nearby. I can't promise what any park or museum will do for a home's value, but I can tell you that open space and walkable local landmarks are things many families want.
To see what homes in the area look like and what they have sold for, read my guide to Barclay Farms homes, prices and schools. For the bigger picture, see my guide to Cherry Hill parks, trails and historic sites, the neighboring Croft Farm and my Cherry Hill neighborhoods guide.
Barclay Farmstead FAQ
Where is Barclay Farmstead?
Barclay Farmstead is at 209 Barclay Lane in Cherry Hill, NJ 08034, in the Barclay Farm neighborhood.
When is Barclay Farmstead open?
Public tours are listed for Wednesdays from 12 to 4 p.m., March through November. Tours can be canceled, so check the township calendar first.
How much does Barclay Farmstead cost?
Admission is free for Cherry Hill residents, children 12 and under and Friends of Barclay Farmstead members. Others pay $5, or $3 for seniors and students 13 and over.
How old is the Barclay Farmstead house?
The township says the farmhouse was built in 1816 by Quaker farmer Joseph Thorn. The property is on the National and New Jersey Registers of Historic Places.
Who owns Barclay Farmstead?
Cherry Hill Township owns and operates it, with support from the Friends of Barclay Farmstead, a volunteer group.
Thinking About Buying or Selling in Cherry Hill?
I would be glad to show you the Barclay Farm area and other Cherry Hill neighborhoods, or tell you what your home could sell for.
Call or text 856-220-1874 Free home value Send me a messageVisit www.southjerseyrealty.com or read how I help people sell their homes in Cherry Hill.
Jerry Mac | Keller Williams Realty | 856-220-1874
Sources: Cherry Hill Township pages for Barclay Farmstead, Brief History of Barclay, Plant-A-Patch Community Gardens and Holiday House, read November 4, 2026. Hours, fees and events change; confirm with the township. This is general information, not legal or financial advice. Equal Housing Opportunity.