Castle Hill, Lobster, And Cher

 

Ipswich, Massachusetts is home to a sprawling 2100 acre estate known as Castle Hill (est. 1634). The property is the former summer home of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Crane, Jr. (Crane Brass and Bell Foundry). The estate consists of a fifty-nine room mansion, twenty-one outbuildings, a casino, a saltwater swimming pool, bath houses, cabanas, guest houses, a sunken garden, a huge grass mall, and an indoor ballroom.

In 1987, the movie The Witches of Eastwick starring Jack Nicholson and Cher was filmed on location at the Crane Estate. The film Flowers in the Attic also featured the Crane mansion.

Not so long ago, Denene and I attended a New England clam bake at the mansion. We also took a stroll along Crane Beach at the rear of the estate, a half mile from the main house.

The Crane mansion

Terrace overlooking the waterfront.

The food was absolutely delicious. We started off with a bowl of authentic New England clam chowder and then worked our way through a variety of mussels, barbecued chicken, lobster, and strawberry shortcake.

The path to Crane Beach