The old Bucks County Jail, formerly on this site, was designed by Philadelphia architect Addison Hutton and built in 1884 on Quaker ideas of reflection and penitence that dominated the American prison system in the 19th century. Its design used the pinwheel concept typical of Quaker prisons, with 58 cells along three hallways connected to a central guard house. Prisoners were kept in solitary confinement and were expected to quietly contemplate their crimes and mend their ways through restoration of the inner connection with God, which Quakers call the Inward Light. To promote humility, cell doors had low openings so prisoners had to bow their heads when entering and leaving. The jail remained in use until May 1985, when it closed because of inhumane conditions caused by serious overcrowding and a deteriorating facility. That same year, the Warden's House on Pine Street was placed on the National Register of Historic Places and Sites.