Springbank (Old Lyme, Connecticut) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Springbank
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Springbank in 2014
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | 69 Neck Road, Old Lyme, Connecticut |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1844; 1936 |
| Architect | Coffin, Marian Cruger; Carter, Robert I. |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival, Colonial Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 01000880 |
| Added to NRHP | August 17, 2001 |
Springbank is a special old country estate located at 69 Neck Road in Old Lyme, Connecticut. The main house started as a brick building in 1844. Later, between 1930 and 1945, it got many new parts and changes. These changes gave it a new style called Colonial Revival.
The property also has a beautiful formal garden. This garden was designed by a famous landscape architect named Marian Cruger Coffin. Springbank is important because it shows her work on a smaller scale, and it is very well kept. This historic place was added to the National Register of Historic Places on August 17, 2001.
What is Springbank Like?
Springbank is in a quiet, mostly residential area. It sits on the east side of Neck Road, which is also Connecticut Route 156. A short driveway leads to a parking area and a garage. The main house is located behind the parking area.
The beautiful formal gardens are set up in terraces. They are found to the north of the house and east of the garage. The house itself is a two-and-a-half-story building made of brick. It has grown over time with different roof lines and gables.
The front of the house faces south. It has an entrance that sticks out a bit, with windows on either side. A larger window extends the front of the house to the right. The house sits on a stone foundation. This foundation can be seen in front of the parking area because the ground slopes. There are also other entrances on this lower level.
The Story of Springbank
The Springbank house was built in 1844 by a man named Thomas Pilgrim. He owned a landing nearby on the Connecticut River. Soon after building it, he sold the house. For many years, different owners lived there until 1928.
In 1928, Katherine Talcott bought the property. She was a member of the Old Saybrook Garden Club. She likely added the garage and might have started working on the gardens.
The next owners were Arthur and Gertrude Wild. They bought Springbank in 1935. They hired Robert Carter, a local architect, to make big changes to the house. He gave it the Colonial Revival style. The Wilds also hired Marian Cruger Coffin to design the gardens around Carter's new house plan.
The Gardens of Springbank
Marian Cruger Coffin's garden design at Springbank is very special. She usually created gardens for much larger country estates. So, Springbank is like a smaller version of her amazing work. It shows her talent in a more compact space.
