Barrett House, c. 1800
Forest Hall
Main Street
New Ipswich, N.H. 03071
(860) 928-4074
Directions
Open: June through October 15
First and third Saturday of the month
Tours at 11 a.m., noon, 1 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m. and 4 p.m.
Admission: $5, Historic New England members and New Ipswich residents free
According to tradition, Forest Hall was built as a wedding gift
for Charles Barrett and his bride by his father. Its grand scale was
encouraged by the bride's father, who promised to furnish the house
in as lavish a manner as it could be built. The interiors are,
indeed, elegantly furnished, and must have presented a fine backdrop
for the young couple.
New Ipswich was a flourishing mill town at
the beginning of the 19th century, and Forest Hall reflects the
prosperity of that era. Ultimately, the town was bypassed by the
expanding railroad, which led to a decline of industry in the area.
Economic stagnation, however, had the beneficial side effect of
preserving the historic character of the town and region.
Today, the stately mansion in its unspoiled rural setting is truly
a relic of a vanished way of life. The Merchant-Ivory film of Henry
James's The Europeans was shot at Barrett House.
Directions: Take Route 2 west to Route 13 north to
Townsend, Mass. Take a left on Route 119, the right on Route 124 in
West Townsend. Go 10 miles to New Ipswich. Turn left onto Main Street
(Route 123A). Barrett House is .25 mile on the right.
For archival quality fine art reproductions from Barrett House,
visit www.lookclickprint.com
Discover more about the Barrett House in the Historic New
England magazine archives:
