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.

Castle Hill at Crane Estate
Rotunda
Castle Hill at Crane Estate
Ballroom
Castle Hill at Crane Estate
Castle Hill at Crane Estate
Grand Allee
Castle Hill at Crane Estate
Chess and Checkers atop the Casino
Castle Hill at Crane Estate
Castle Hill
Castle Hill at Crane Estate
Casino and former swimming pool
Castle Hill at Crane Estate
Casino
Castle Hill at Crane Estate
Casino. This was largely hidden from the main house as a "casino" was a separate residence for young bachelors and their activities may need to be hidden from view.
Castle Hill at Crane Estate
Grand Allee from the Casino
Castle Hill at Crane Estate
Geological Marker
Castle Hill at Crane Estate
Ipswich Bay from the end of the Grand Allee
Castle Hill at Crane Estate
Grand Allee looking back to the house
Castle Hill at Crane Estate
Grand Allee turkeys
Castle Hill at Crane Estate
Casino and former swimming pool
Castle Hill at Crane Estate
Casino
Castle Hill at Crane Estate
Casino
Castle Hill at Crane Estate
Griffin statue, a gift from the Crane Family employees in 1924
Castle Hill at Crane Estate
Crane bathroom
Castle Hill at Crane Estate
Walk-in vault
Castle Hill at Crane Estate
Second floor hallway
Castle Hill at Crane Estate
Crane bathroom shower wall. Custom tiles depict summer activities, including "Punch Your Friend in the Face"
Castle Hill at Crane Estate
Illyria, Cornelius Crane's sloop. Not pictured is the airplane that could be assembled and used by Cornelius at various stops around the world.
Castle Hill at Crane Estate
Ghost Chair, curious inclusion of a non-original furnishing.
Castle Hill at Crane Estate
Ipswich Bay vew from Cornelius Crane's bedroom. Ahead is Crane's Beach, once a part of the estate.
Castle Hill at Crane Estate
Cornelius Crane's globe. Marked on its surface is the route and stops he made with the Illyria
Castle Hill at Crane Estate
Cornelius Crane's bedroom
Castle Hill at Crane Estate
Cornelius Crane's bedroom view
Castle Hill at Crane Estate
Illyria, Cornelius Crane's sloop
Castle Hill at Crane Estate
Florence Crane's (mother) bedroom
Castle Hill at Crane Estate
Second Floor Gallery view
Castle Hill at Crane Estate
Crane bathroom
Castle Hill at Crane Estate
Intercom paging system
Castle Hill at Crane Estate
Florence Crane's emerald butterfly broache
Castle Hill at Crane Estate
Florence Crane's bedroom view. Hedge maze on the right.
Castle Hill at Crane Estate
Crane Estate awesome Art Deco style phone
Castle Hill at Crane Estate
Hedge Maze, since eaten by deer
Castle Hill at Crane Estate
Italian Garden playhouse remains
Castle Hill at Crane Estate
Italian Garden
Castle Hill at Crane Estate
Italian Garden
Castle Hill at Crane Estate
Italian Garden
Castle Hill at Crane Estate
Italian Garden
Castle Hill at Crane Estate
Rose Garden
Castle Hill at Crane Estate
Rose Garden
Castle Hill at Crane Estate
Italian Garden
Castle Hill at Crane Estate
Italian Garden
Castle Hill at Crane Estate
Italian Garden
Castle Hill at Crane Estate
Italian Garden