Published: 5/19/2023 4:21:05 PM
Modified: 5/19/2023 4:18:36 PM
Barrett House, 79 Main St. in New Ipswich, will be part of Historic New England’s region-wide open house Saturday June 3.
Barrett House, known as Forest Hall, was built circa 1800 by Charles Barrett for his son Charles Jr. and daughter-in-law Martha Minot when they were married. Its scale was encouraged by Martha’s father, who promised to furnish the house as lavishly as Barrett could build it. It features family furnishings, French scenic wallpaper and period finishes.
The mansion sits on more than 70 acres that include a Gothic Revival summer house that crowns the hillside overlooking the grounds. Attendees at the free open house can learn about the multiple generations that resided at Barrett House, their lifestyles and the country estate from a time when New Ipswich was an active mill town.