The Gibraltar Mansion

Towering over the gardens, the varied history of Gibraltar is no better embodied than in its mansion. Built in 1844, the nearly two-century old home was passed from John Rodney Brinckle to Samuel Brinckle, brother to brother, before it was sold to Hugh Rodney Sharp and Isabella Matheiu DuPont in 1909.  They added to the mansion, constructed additional buildings like garages, a greenhouse, and more. Hiring landscape architect Marian Coffin to design and install the Gardens was one of their most impactful decisions, transforming it into the estate that it is today. Since the mid-20th century, the mansion has seen repeated periods of disrepair, and has been uninhabited since 1990. 

Depsite the fact that the inside is currently unusable, the mansion with its recently renovated exterior operates as a fundamental element in the gardens at Gibraltar. Marian Coffin designed the sprawling gardens around the tall, granite monument, using its shape and size as a theme to build around.

Though a single parcel of land for 166 years, the property was split into two parcels in 2010.  The Mansion, Garages, Pumphouse, Potting shed, and Lawn became one parcel, and the walled Gardens became a separate parcel. Currently, in 2026, The Mansion parcel is owned by The Wilmington Neighborhood Conservancy Land Bank (WNCLB), and the Gardens are owned by Preservation Delaware. 

Members from both organizations work together to ensure that the entire space is cared for and safe for visitors. 

After decades of inconsistent care that left the Mansion and Gardens deteriorating, the Wilmington Neighborhood Conservancy Land Bank purchased the Mansion parcel in January 2023 and began the work of reviving Gibraltar. Facing the daunting task head on, under the leadership of former Mayor Mike Purzycki (1945–2026), many repairs and improvements were made across the former estate.

The Mansion roof was replaced; windows and doors were repaired or replaced and painted; the Conservatory was reconstructed using the original triple-hung windows; and one interior room was beautifully restored to demonstrate the possibilities for the Mansion’s future. In the Gardens, flagstone pathways, statues, and walls were cleaned and repaired, while years of overgrowth were removed throughout the property.

Preservation Delaware hired a Garden Manager to maintain and revive the Gardens parcel. The WNCLB hired Anchor Renovations to repair the structions, and Eastern Horticultural Services was hired to maintain the Mansion grounds and repair historic stone structures.

Visitors often ask who lives in the Gibraltar Mansion. The answer is: Raccoons. Though the structure looks lovely on the exterior, the interior needs years worth of renovations to restore HVAC, electrical, and water systems, as well as extensive asbestos, lead, and mold remediation, and animal control. 

Over the decades, dozens of develpment concepts have been proposed, including ideas for offices, boutique hotel, restaurants, condos, and more. Due to a complicated cocktail of financial, historical, political, and social issues, none have come to pass. 

The Future of the Gibraltar Mansion is unclear. There are no current plans to develop or use the mansion for any private or public purposes, due to its unstable conditions and the complexities of potential development. It is not open to the public, but can be seen as a wonderful backdrop to Preservation Delaware's Marian Coffin Gardens at Gibraltar.