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~ North Shore, MA ~ Castle Hill (Crane Estate), Ipswich |
All Text & Images: Copyright (2013, 2016) |
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~ North Shore, MA ~ Castle Hill (Crane Estate), Ipswich |
All Text & Images: Copyright (2013, 2016) |
| The 2100 acre Crane Estate sits on Castle Hill in Ipswich, MA. The estate includes a historic mansion, 21 outbuildings, and designed landscapes overlooking Ipswich Bay. Castle Hill's name derives from a promontory in Ipswich, England, and predates the Crane mansion. |
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| The Great House |
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| The concrete walls around the Great House are decorated with recurring motifs: |
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| Crane |
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| Sea-serpents |
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| The spread wings remind me of a Cormorant, but perhaps this is also a Crane. |
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| Urn on terrace wall |
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| Wall, with Atlantic Ocean in the background. |
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| The "Grande Allee" |
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| Statue bordering the Allee |
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| Another figure |
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| Grand Allee, bordered by stone figures |
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| One of a pair of Gryphons, designed by Paul Manning |
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| Only the chimney remains of a log cabin built for young Cornelius Crane. |
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| Garden Pillars |
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| Italian Garden entrance |
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| Courtyard of the Italian Garden The garden landscape was designed by the famed Olmstead brothers. |
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| Gazebo at corner of the garden |
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| Gazebo Finial |
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| Lower side of the Italian Garden |
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| Walkway to the Rose Garden |
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| Rose Garden (plantings no longer exist, due to maintenance) |
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| Garden from above |
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| Dried Hydrangea |
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| Looking toward Crane's Beach and Cape Ann |
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| Marshland, through the trees |
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| Ipswich Bay |
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Colorful Larches |
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| The Reservoir |
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| Concrete railing on the covered reservoir |
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| Great house |
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| Chimney and mansion wing |
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| Casino |
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| Casino sculpture |
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| Cedar berries |
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| Estate barn |
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| Barn |
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| Inn-keeper's quarters and stone gazebo-tower |
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| Terraced garden, tower and gate |
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| Great House cupola through gate archway |
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| A helicopter flew over during our visit. |
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| More Larches |