• Who We Are
    • About Andrea
    • Philosophy
    • FAQ’s
    • Press
  • Portfolio
    • Cambridge Master Plan
    • Watertown Master Plan
    • Westport Retreat
    • Wellesley Master Plan
    • Boston Roofdeck
    • Brookline Residence
    • Charlestown Residence
    • Lexington New Construction
  • Services
  • Blog
  • Contact

Castle Hill on the Crane Estate

Jul, 2018
by Andrea Nilsen Morse
Comments are off

My family and I visited Castle Hill on the Crane Estate in Ipswich on a picture perfect day last week.  The Estate is a the former summer home of the Crane family and is a fantastic example of the architecture and gardens of the American Country Place Era.

IMG_6272

The back of the house from the great lawn

IMG_6270

A view down the allee with rolling hills, and the ocean in the distance

The landscape draws from both French and Italian garden styles.  At the back of the house a long allee extends down rolling hills toward the water.  Strictly framed by an evergreen hedge and punctuated with statuary, the allee offers focus and rhythm.  It also disguises, by nature of the rolling hills, a Casino and former pool set into the lawn about 1/3 of the way toward the water.  This would have been a guest suite, changing room and bathing area at the turn of the century.  From the house you can simply see the top railing, but looking back up to the house from the water the view of the Casino is revealed.

IMG_6271

One side of the Casino (or outbuilding) the other side is a mirror image. The center grass area would have been a pool. I love the brick work and pattern here and how they use Juniper trees to punctuate the space.

IMG_6278

View from the house of Ipswich Bay

A side perennial garden and rose garden continue in the European style with pergolas, fountains, and colorful borders.  The crumbling concrete of the rose garden pillars makes that garden feel almost ancient.

IMG_6286

The perennial garden is enclosed by a walkway, much of which is covered by a pergola

IMG_6285

An Italianate fountain at one end of the perennial garden

IMG_6293

The pergola casts great shadows on the paving

IMG_6307

The former rose garden across the street, with its relic like posts and peak through views to the marsh

A great place to visit and worth the trip to explore the house, landscape and area beaches.

About Andrea
Social Share
  • google-share

Search


Share This Post

Recent Posts

  • “Ultimate Grey” and “Illuminating” are the Colors of the Year for 2021
  • Four Things I Learned This Year – From My Clients!
  • Choosing Bulbs For Your Spring Garden
  • An Easy Trio of Drought Tolerant Plants
  • Rhododendrons for Privacy, Shade and Foundation Beds

Categories

  • Garden
  • Home
  • Lifestyle
  • News
  • Uncategorized

© 2023 Nilsen Landscape Design, LLC | Boston, MA |

|

Sign up for our newsletter to
receive the latest updates in your inbox.

|