About Castle Hill on the Crane Estate |
165 acres |
Experience the grandeur of a seaside estate and its marvelously landscaped grounds, notable for a broad, undulating lawn running down to the shore.
What makes Castle Hill a special place?
Centuries before becoming a grand summer estate owned by one of America’s wealthiest families, Castle Hill was well known by Native Americans, who called the area Agawam, referring to its rich fishery. John Winthrop, Jr., son of the first governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, laid claim to Castle Hill in 1637. For more than two centuries, a succession of owners farmed the land. Beginning in the 1880s, J. B. Brown transformed Castle Hill Farm from an agricultural holding into a gentleman’s farm, improving roadways and plantings and renovating his modest farmhouse into a rambling, shingle-style cottage that is now The Inn at Castle Hill.
In the decades following Richard T. Crane, Jr.’s purchase of the property in 1910, Castle Hill came to exemplify the American Country Place Era with its farm and estate buildings, designed grounds and gardens, and diverse natural areas. The Cranes hired some of the century’s most notable architects and landscape architects. The first house built atop Castle Hill, an Italian Renaissance Revival villa designed by Shepley, Rutan and Coolidge, was razed and replaced in 1928 with the 59-room Stuart-style mansion designed by architect David Adler you see today. The Great House is furnished with period antiques.
Castle Hill is also home to a wide diversity of wildlife typical of northeast Massachusetts forests. Deer, fox, turkey, and a multitude of songbirds can be observed from the many trails and roads on Castle Hill. In addition, Castle Hill is home to several pairs of nesting great horned owls and red-tailed hawks. Due to its location on the Atlantic Ocean and adjacent Crane Beach, unusual species such as turkey vultures, migratory hawks, and even an occasional bald eagle can be seen soaring above the landscape.
Trails
Four miles of trails and roads. Moderate hiking. Castle Hill is a link in the Bay Circuit Trail.
When to Visit
Grounds: year-round, daily, 8am to sunset. Great House: open end of May through Columbus Day for guided tours. A wide range of public programs are offered throughout the year; please visit our events calendar for upcoming programs. Allow a minimum of 2 ½ hours (including Great House or landscape tour), 6 hours if also visiting Crane Beach and the Crane Wildlife Refuge.
Facilities
Public restrooms in the Great House (open during tours) and in the visitor parking area. The Inn at Castle Hill offers overnight B&B accommodation.
Regulations & Advisories
- The Great House serves as offices for The Trustees of Reservations. The ground floor of the Great House may be rented for private functions, during which public access to the grounds immediately surrounding the Great House is restricted. Steep Hill Beach may also be rented for private functions. Find more information on private functions rentals.
- Seasonal hunting (deer only) is permitted only as part of a deer management program administered by The Trustees of Reservations. Contact The Trustees' Northeast Regional Ecologist for details. Learn more about hunting on Trustees properties.
- Mountain biking is permitted only on paved and dirt roads.
- Photography is not permitted inside the house.
- Dogs are allowed only on the beach below the high tide line. They are not allowed at Castle Hill.
Directions
The Crane Estate
290 Argilla Road
Ipswich, MA
Telephone: 978.356.4351
E-mail: castlehill@ttor.org
Get directions on Google Maps.
From Rt. 128 North Exit 20A, take Rt. 1A North for 8 mi. to Ipswich. Turn right onto Rt. 133 East and follow for 1.5 mi. Turn left onto Northgate Rd. and follow for 0.5 mi. Turn right onto Argilla Rd. and follow for 2.3 mi. to entrance.
Admission
When to Visit
Grounds: year-round, daily, 8am to sunset. Great House: open end of May through Columbus Day for guided tours. A wide range of public programs are offered throughout the year; please visit our events calendar for upcoming programs. Allow a minimum of 2 ½ hours (including Great House or landscape tour), 6 hours if also visiting Crane Beach and the Crane Wildlife Refuge.
Admission and Fees
Grounds: Trustees members: FREE. Nonmembers: $8 per car on weekends and Monday holidays, Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend; $5 per car all other times. $2 per bicycle all the time, $4 per motorcycle all the time. Ipswich residents FREE on weekdays; same admission fees as nonmembers on weekends. All vehicles receive 50% admission discount after 3pm, year-round, every day.
Great House Tours: Members: FREE. Nonmembers: Adult $10; Child $5. Minimum age: 8 years old (16 without adult). Fees include admission to grounds. To arrange tours for groups of 15 or more, call 978.921.1944 x4009.
Historic Landscape Tours of Castle Hill: Members: FREE. Nonmembers: $5. Minimum age: 8 years old (16 without adult).
Property History
For centuries, this dramatic coastscape served as seasonal fishing grounds for Native Americans before European settlement turned it to agriculture. By the late-19th century it had evolved into a gentleman’s farm; Richard T. Crane, Jr., began its transformation into a sprawling summer estate during the early decades of the 20th century.
Property Acquisition History
Bequeathed by Mrs. Richard T. Crane, Jr. in 1949. Additional land given by Mr. and Mrs. Charles W. Eliot II in 1980; Dr. Robert L. Goodale in 1980; Mr. and Mrs. David C. Crockett in 1981; Mr. and Mrs. David W. Scudder in 1981; and Mr. and Mrs. Richard H. Venn in 1982.
Programs
The Inn at Castle Hill offers luxurious overnight accommodations. The Tavern is available for rentals for business meetings and cocktail receptions.
Tours
Great House Tours: May 27 - October 10, Wednesdays – Thursdays | 10AM – 3PM; Fridays – Saturdays | 10AM – 1PM (except July 4th). First Wednesdays, June 3 through September 2 | 10AM - 7PM. Members: FREE. Nonmembers: Adult $10; Child $5. Minimum age: 8 years old (16 without adult). Fees include admission to grounds.
Historic Landscape Tours of Castle Hill: Thursdays & Saturdays, May 28 through October 10, except July 4th | 10AM. Members: FREE. Nonmembers: $5. Minimum age: 8 years old (16 without adult).
Events
Summer Picnic Concert Series, Annual Art Show, and Holiday Open House are among many annual events held at Castle Hill. And, don't miss out on our new SummerQuest day camp. Consult the events calendar for details.
Volunteer Opportunities
| Position | Location |
|---|---|
| Crane Estate Conservation Crewhands (ages 12 - 16) | |
| Crane Estate Saturday Work Crew | Crane Beach on the Crane Estate, Greenwood Farm, Old Town Hill |
| Crane Estate Volunteer Interpretive Guides | |
| House Tour Volunteer - Castle Hill | |
| Public Program Assistants | Crane Beach on the Crane Estate |
Work Parties
| Date | Event | Town |
|---|---|---|
| 04/20/2010 | Crane Estate Conservation Crewhands (ages 12 - 16) | Ipswich, MA |
| 05/13/2010 | Volunteer Shorebird Monitor Information Session | Ispwich, MA |
Maps and Resources
A Visitor's Guide to the Crane Estate is a self-guided landscape tour booklet introducing visitors to Castle Hill, Crane Beach, and the Crane Wildlife Refuge. It is available from the Castle Hill gatehouse.
Private Functions
The Great House may be rented for private gatherings, weddings, or other celebrations.
Steep Hill Beach (located at the western end of Crane Beach and at the base of Castle Hill) may be rented for corporate outings.
Planning Your Visit
Community Links
Ipswich Online
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:
Tell Us What You Think
We’d love to hear about your visit. Click here to take our visitor survey. If you have a question for us about this reservation, you can use this form to send it to us, too.
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Announcements & Alerts
Register now for SummerQuest at the Crane Estate. Learn more >>
Upcoming Things To Do
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