Governor Hutchinson's Field
Milton, MA
10 acres
metro-boston
Bird Watching Cross-country skiing/Snowshoeing Mountain Biking Not Permitted Dog Walking Walking/Hiking (Easy) Picnicking Difficult Access Public Transportation

About Governor Hutchinson's Field

Enjoy views of the Neponset River marshes and Boston Harbor from the hilltop site of the estate of the last Massachusetts Colonial governor.

What makes Governor Hutchinson's Field a special place?
We think it's the link to a piece of revolutionary history. In 1734, Gov. Thomas Hutchinson, the last royal Governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, built a country estate on Milton Hill. His zealous loyalty to the crown made him an object of popular ridicule in the years leading up to the Revolutionary War, and, in 1774, shortly after the Boston Tea Party, Hutchinson fled to England. The site of his former estate, of which only the ha-ha (sunken fence) survives, boasts spectacular views of the Neponset River and its tidal salt marshes, the Boston skyline, and the Boston Harbor Islands.

From the reservation, you can access the adjacent Pierce Reservation, a four-acre parcel of grassy slopes that runs down to the tidal marshes that border the Neponset River. To get to Pierce Reservation, walk down the hill of open fields and bear right. Pierce Reservation sits behind a private residence; please respect the privacy of our neighbor

Trails
A quarter-mile trail runs along the embankment of the Neponset River. Easy walking.

When to Visit
Year-round, daily, sunrise to sunset. Allow a minimum of ½ hour.

Getting Here & Parking:

  • For special programs and events here, we offer parking in the field. The entrance will be marked with a purple flutter banner and cars should enter at the break in the wall. (Please note that parking on grass and/or dirt should be expected.)
  • For larger events, parking may be offered at the Forbes House Museum (across the street).
  • Just down the hill at Lower Mills, there is on-street parking within 5 minute walk.
  • MBTA: Governor Hutchinson's Field is MBTA accessible – take the Redline to Milton Station, exit the station to Adams Street,  walk uphill along Adams Street and the field is approximately 1/4 mile up on the left.
  • For day-to-day visiting when we are not offering a special program or event, we do not yet have parking onsite and roadside parking is not permitted. Please consider one of the options above if you'd like to visit on a day without programs or a special event.

Regulations & Advisories

  • Mountain biking is not allowed.

  • Please respect the privacy of our neighbor.

The Trustees reserves the right to photograph or video visitors and program participants for promotional use, and usage of our properties implies consent. Find the full policy here.

Directions

Adams Street
Milton, MA 02186
Telephone: 781.784.0567
E-mail: greaterboston@thetrustees.org

Latitude: 42.2655
Longitude: -71.0652

Get directions on Google Maps.

From Points North: I-93/Rt. 3 South to Exit 10. Go 0.2 mi. At stop sign, turn right onto Adams St. Follow for 1.2 mi. to top of Milton Hill; entrance is on right.

From Points South: I-93/Rt. 3 North to Exit 9, Granite Ave. Follow north for 1.5 mi. through two sets of traffic lights. Turn left and drive over expressway bridge to stop sign. Turn right onto Adams St. Follow to top of Milton Hill; entrance is on right.

From Dorchester: Take Dorchester Ave. to Adams St. and follow up Milton Hill; entrance is on the left.

Note: There is no designated parking area and road-side parking is not permitted.

Getting Here & Parking

  • For special programs and events here, we offer parking in the field. The entrance will be marked with a purple flutter banner and cars should enter at the break in the wall. (Please note that parking on grass and/or dirt should be expected.)
  • For larger events, parking may be offered at the Forbes House Museum (across the street).
  • Just down the hill at Lower Mills, there is on-street parking within 5 minute walk.
  • MBTA: Governor Hutchinson's Field is MBTA accessible – take the Redline to Milton Station, exit the station to Adams Street,  walk uphill along Adams Street and the field is approximately 1/4 mile up on the left.
  • For day-to-day visiting when we are not offering a special program or event, we do not yet have parking onsite and roadside parking is not permitted. Please consider one of the options above if you'd like to visit on a day without programs or a special event.


Admission

When to Visit
Year-round, daily, sunrise to sunset. Allow a minimum of 1/2 hour.

Admission
FREE to all

Getting Here & Parking

  • For special programs and events here, we offer parking in the field. The entrance will be marked with a purple flutter banner and cars should enter at the break in the wall. (Please note that parking on grass and/or dirt should be expected.)
  • For larger events, parking may be offered at the Forbes House Museum (across the street).
  • Just down the hill at Lower Mills, there is on-street parking within 5 minute walk.
  • MBTA: Governor Hutchinson's Field is MBTA accessible – take the Redline to Milton Station, exit the station to Adams Street,  walk uphill along Adams Street and the field is approximately 1/4 mile up on the left.
  • For day-to-day visiting when we are not offering a special program or event, we do not yet have parking onsite and roadside parking is not permitted. Please consider one of the options above if you'd like to visit on a day without programs or a special event.

Property History

Governor Thomas Hutchinson was the last Royal Governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Born in Boston in 1711 and educated at Harvard, he was a prominent conservative, powerful and devoutly loyal to the British Crown. His over royalist leanings made him the object of public ridicule in the years leading up to the Revolutionary War. He found himself at great odds with the radical revolutionaries (soon to be patriots) of the day, namely Samuel Adams who, with others, mockingly dubbed him “Tommy Skin-and-Bones” Hutchinson presumably because of his gaunt appearance.

In 1743, he built for his family a modest country estate on Milton Hill to escape the city. Hutchinson commissioned Sir Francis Bernard to design his house and gardens. All that remains of the estate today is the field and a “ha-ha” that formed the western boundary of the formal garden; located next to St. Michael’s Church on Randolph Street in Milton, the “ha-ha” is now on the National Register of Historic Places.

In 1774, shortly after the Boston Tea Party, Governor Hutchinson went into exile in England where he died in 1780. Following his departure from Massachusetts, his property and effects were sold at auction. Today his writing desk can be seen at the Milton Public Library. The house was later owned by James Warren whose wife was Mercy Otis Warren, a brave polemist whose satiric sketches and accounts of the Revolutionary War were circulated throughout the colonies. The house was razed in 1946.

Property Acquisition History
Original acreage a gift of John M. Forbes and Mrs. Mary F. Cunningham in 1898. Additional land purchased in 1898. Endowment given by Mrs. Cunningham in 1898 and by Jessie B. Cox Charitable Trust in 1983.

Conservation and Stewardship

Management Planning for Our Properties
 


Since 1891, The Trustees of Reservations have worked to protect special places in Massachusetts and maintain them to the highest standards. To ensure these standards are met, a program of careful planning and sound management is essential. Comprehensive property management plans are created for each reservation and are completely updated approximately every ten years. We often work with volunteers, property users, and members of the community to carry out this planning, which typically involves several steps:
 


  • Describing in detail the site’s natural, scenic, and historical resources; identifying management issues related to the protection of those resources. 

  • Describing how visitors use the property; outlining the opportunities that the property provides for people to become involved in the work of conservation and caring for their community.

  • Developing a detailed list of management recommendations, a work plan, and a description of financial needs for implementing the actions.

  • Developing a prescribed routine management program for the reservation that will guide staff work plans, volunteer involvement, and the allocation of human and financial resources.


Maps and Resources

At present, a map is not available for Governor Hutchinson’s Field.



Planning Your Visit

Before You Go
We encourage you to visit as many Trustees properties as you can.

Wherever your travels take you, please observe all posted regulations, follow special instructions from property staff, and keep in mind the Stewardship Code:

  • Protect wildlife and plants.
  • Guard against all risk of fire.
  • Help keep air and water clean.
  • Carry out what you carry in.
  • Use marked footpaths and bridle paths.
  • Leave livestock, crops, and machinery alone.
  • Respect the privacy of neighboring land.
  • Enjoy and share the landscape with others.

Click on links below for further visitor information:

Before Setting Out

Enjoying Trustees Reservations

Safety

About Hunting on Trustees of Reservations Land