Hammond Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Hammond Castle
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | 80 Hesperus Ave., Gloucester, Massachusetts |
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| Built | 1926-1929 |
| Architect | John Hays Hammond Jr. |
| NRHP reference No. | 73000298 |
| Added to NRHP | May 08, 1973 |
Hammond Castle is a unique castle located right on the Atlantic coast in Gloucester, Massachusetts. It was built between 1926 and 1929. This special place was the home, laboratory, and museum of John Hays Hammond Jr.. He was a famous inventor and a pioneer in the field of remote control. He held more than 400 patents for his inventions! The castle itself is a mix of old and new styles. It has parts that look like they came from the 15th, 16th, and 18th centuries. It sits on a rocky cliff with a great view of Gloucester Harbor.
Today, the castle is open to visitors as the Hammond Castle Museum. Inside, you can see many interesting things. There are collections of ancient Roman, medieval, and Renaissance items. You can also learn about John Hays Hammond Jr.'s life and his amazing inventions. The castle's Great Hall has a very large pipe organ. This organ was used for concerts and recordings by famous musicians. John Hays Hammond Jr. started building the organ in the early 1920s, even before the castle was finished. It was later moved into the castle.
Contents
Building the Castle: A Dream Home
John Hays Hammond Jr. had a big dream: to build his own medieval-style castle. In 1923, he hired an architectural firm from Boston, Massachusetts, called Allen & Collens. They helped him design his dream home.
Early Plans and Changes
At first, Hammond wanted his castle to be a tall tower house. It was planned for his family's property called Lookout Hill. His friend, Leslie Buswell, was building his own home nearby. Buswell told Hammond he was trying to make his house look like the famous Chartres Cathedral in France. Hammond's first castle design was very tall, about 120 feet high.
In 1924, Hammond decided he wanted a smaller castle. The new design was only 87 feet tall. It also had a smaller base, about 43 by 30 feet. But it still kept the tower house style.
Moving to a New Location
After his parents asked him to move from Lookout Hill, Hammond bought a new piece of land. It was about a mile south, close to a place called Norman's Woe Reef. This new location led to a completely new design for the castle. The final castle was a bit shorter, at 81 feet. However, it had a much larger base, measuring 142 by 70 feet. This is the castle you can see today!
Images for kids
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The front of the castle.
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The back of the castle.
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The great hall inside the castle.
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A survey map from 1926 with blueprints of the castle.
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Hammond Castle seen from the southeast.
See also
