Castle Hill at Crane Estate, Ipswich, MA
Castle Hill is the name given to the mansion and surrounding gardens located on the coast of Ipswich, Massachusetts. It's a part of the larger Crane Estate. The name Castle Hill dates back to the original settlement of Ipswich in 1633. The hill was once owned by the town but given to John Winthrop in 1637 and sold through private hands until 1949, when Florence Crane donated it to the town.
Richard Crane purchased Castle Hill and several surrounding estates and farms in 1910. He built an Italian-inspired mansion, which was replaced in 1924 with the current great house. The grounds were desgined by the Olmstead Brothers, sons of Frederick Law Olmstead, and includes a large Italian Garden and a Rose Garden. The signature landscape feature is the half-mile long Grand Allee ("alay") that extends from the house to a cliff overlooking Ipswich Bay. The rolling hill design is man-made and mimics waves of the sea. It also hides the separate Casino structures and swimming pool. The current 59-room mansion was designed by David Adler of Chicago.
Richard's wife Florence continued to live in the house after his death in 1931, along with his son Cornelius and daughter Florence. Wife Florence passed away in 1949 and the mansion, grounds, and private were donated to the Trustees of Reservations, a Massachusetts non-profit that preserves properties throughout the state. The Crane family continued to spend time there, including Cornelius' nephew comedian Cornelius 'Chevy' Chase.
Today the Trustees have preserved or restored much of the grounds and main house. It's one of the leading wedding venues in the country as well as the setting for various feature films. Other buildings on the property include a tavern and inn. In the late 1990s a Concours d'Elegance for automobiles was held on the Grand Allee and was a tremendous success. In 2017 the Italian Garden was re-opened and re-planted for the first time since Florence's death. Entry is free for Trustees members but there is an admission fee for non-members. Tours of the house are also available and I recommend it (but a bit corny).
More details to come upon my next visit. I was a little preoccupied with taking pictures and absorbing the history.
Read MoreRichard Crane purchased Castle Hill and several surrounding estates and farms in 1910. He built an Italian-inspired mansion, which was replaced in 1924 with the current great house. The grounds were desgined by the Olmstead Brothers, sons of Frederick Law Olmstead, and includes a large Italian Garden and a Rose Garden. The signature landscape feature is the half-mile long Grand Allee ("alay") that extends from the house to a cliff overlooking Ipswich Bay. The rolling hill design is man-made and mimics waves of the sea. It also hides the separate Casino structures and swimming pool. The current 59-room mansion was designed by David Adler of Chicago.
Richard's wife Florence continued to live in the house after his death in 1931, along with his son Cornelius and daughter Florence. Wife Florence passed away in 1949 and the mansion, grounds, and private were donated to the Trustees of Reservations, a Massachusetts non-profit that preserves properties throughout the state. The Crane family continued to spend time there, including Cornelius' nephew comedian Cornelius 'Chevy' Chase.
Today the Trustees have preserved or restored much of the grounds and main house. It's one of the leading wedding venues in the country as well as the setting for various feature films. Other buildings on the property include a tavern and inn. In the late 1990s a Concours d'Elegance for automobiles was held on the Grand Allee and was a tremendous success. In 2017 the Italian Garden was re-opened and re-planted for the first time since Florence's death. Entry is free for Trustees members but there is an admission fee for non-members. Tours of the house are also available and I recommend it (but a bit corny).
More details to come upon my next visit. I was a little preoccupied with taking pictures and absorbing the history.