Castle Hill on the Crane Estate, back side

Castle Hill, Crane Beach and the Crane Wildlife Refuge comprises more than 2,000 acres along the Essex and Ipswich River estuaries. All are open to the public year round for outdoor study, leisure and recreation. Together, these unique landscapes once formed the early 20th century summer country estate of Chicago industrialist Richard T. Crane, Jr. and his family. The 59-room Stuart-style mansion known as The Great House rests high atop Castle Hill.

Sept 2009, Photo 64

Crane beach from the house

Sept 2009, Photo 65

Great House, front side facing the beach

Sept 2009, Photo 67

Crane alley which extends from the house to the ocean

Sept 2009, Photo 69

Crane alley from the house, detail, with Isles of Shoals off Portsmouth faintly visible.

Sept 2009, Photo 69d

Some of the statuary along the alley

Sept 2009, Photo 70

More statuary

Sept 2009, Photo 76

looking back up the alley to the house

Sept 2009, Photo 71

One of the auxiliary houses

Sept 2009, Photo 72

Another, this one the bachelor quarters

Sept 2009, Photo 73

looking back up the alley

Sept 2009, Photo 77

back up the alley

Sept 2009, Photo 79

Just of the beach

Sept 2009, Photo 81

To the left of the alley

Sept 2009, Photo 83