Growing up working on one of the oldest farms in America (run by the same family since the 1680s), my interest in local history was definitely the cause of some long-winded conversations with some of the old-timers. The farm was located adjacent to Maudslay State in park in Newburyport. In fact, the park itself used to be part of the farm before it was sold off to the Moseley family (Originally spelled Maudesleigh) around the turn of the century (1900s).
One bit of local history that always really interested me was the “Moulton Castle” that used to sit on what is now called “Castle Hill” in Maudslay State Park. To sum up, Henry Moulton was this civil war soldier. After the war, he came back and built a very real castle in Newburyport. I’ve know about it since I was a teenager, but every time I tell someone about it I always get the same response; “Yeah, right. A castle in Newburyport…”
Well, alas I have proof that can share! A close friend of mine, and son of the farmer I grew up with, just gave me what may be the “only” remaining copy of this:
It’s a poem by Charles Clinton Jones about the castle. It must have been written and printed after the castle came down, but other than that I know nothing about it. I’ve looked online for years, trying to find some sort of documentation on the castle. Literally, you’d think I was searching for the lost ark. No one seems to know it ever existed. How has something this incredible just vanished in history. I mean come on, a castle in newburyport!!
Here is the rest of the booklet:
One of the few pictures that exist of the actual Moulton Castle (I’ve seen at least two):
The poem by Charles Clinton Jones:
The back page with printer’s mark: C.S. Morse Printer
Just the back cover:
As of today, there is only an impression in the ground where the castle once was. I’ve had a coffee on the big stone front steps that are all that remain. If you look around the top of castle hill you will find them.
Other things about the castle:
- The chandelier from the front hall is hanging in my friends house
- There was a well with a miniature replica of the castle on the roof. It vanished when the castle was taken down. I’ve been looking for it since I was like 15
- After the war, every year Henry Moulton would send a ship into Boston to gather the men who fought with him. The would camp on the front lawn of the castle and celebrate for a couple weeks. From what I’ve been told by the family, they would fire off their guns and a canon while they party. I’ve even used a metal detector in “Bootleggers Field’ and pulled out some musket balls. Cool stuff
Hey, Pete!
Google “The Moulton Annals”, edited by Clarabel Moulton and written by her father Henry Moulton. All the castle information is in the book!
I recall visiting a wooden castle built to look like stone — back sometime in the mid-to-late 1950s. My Grandfather (who lived in nearby Reading, MA) took me there. I’ve always wanted to return, but never knew where to look. Was this castle still standing at that time? If not, do any of you know of another such castle within driving distance from Reading?
This would not be that structure. This came down around the turn of the century, 50 years earlier.