Gray Cliff Historic District
The Gray Cliff area was the estate of Massachusetts politician Robert Bishop before it was subdivided for development. The construction of Commonwealth Avenue increased development pressure, and his was one of many estates that was subdivided. The houses are large, and sited on well-proportioned lots that take advantage of the topography of the area, which features rocky outcrops and ledges. It is possible that the subdivision was laid out by a draftsman who once worked for Frederick Law Olmsted. The house at 53 Gray Cliff Road is one of Newton's finest Shingle style houses.
The area of The Ledges was laid out between 1906 and 1912, and includes the original Bishop House at 40 The Ledges Road. This house was originally built in 1861, probably with Italianate styling, but was completely enlarged in the 1890s and restyled in the Colonial Revival style. Two of the houses in this area include two that were designed by architects for their own use: James Ritchie designed the Tudor style house at 10 The Ledges Road, and Henry J. Carlson designed the Colonial Revival house at 91 Bishopsgate Road for his own use; he also designed 131 Bishopsgate Road.
See also
- Monadnock Road Historic District, an adjacent district which covers part of another estate subdivision
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Newton, Massachusetts
References
- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. April 15, 2008.
- ^ "Massive Fire Rips Through Newton Home Overnight". July 9, 2022. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
- ^ "NRHP nomination for Gray Cliff Historic District". Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Retrieved April 12, 2014.
- ^ "NRHP nomination for Gray Cliff Historic District (1990 increase)". Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Retrieved April 12, 2014.