On the river’s edge near the Amesbury end of today’s I-95 Whittier Bridge once stood a striking residence called Hawkswood Castle. Unfortunately, it is hardly remembered today, after being demolished in the early 1950s to make room for the new I-95 and the original Whittier bridge. Only the street name of Hawkswood Estates, branching off of Main Street, remains to pay homage to the former landmark.

The views from the castle’s tower and upper floors must have been spectacular. Downriver and unobstructed lay Deer Island and the Chain Bridge. Across the Merrimack and upriver was the tree-covered Merrimack River south bank, which now includes Newburyport’s Spring Lane and today’s Maudslay Park.

Fortunately, one of ACM’s stalwart researchers, Mike Harrold, took it upon himself to identify the location of Hawkswood Castle and provide some old photographs of the building. Although Mike’s report doesn’t offer a lot of detail, it’s a great start to fleshing out the history of this Amesbury landmark before it fades further from memory and the historical record. Read Mike’s report on Hawkswood Castle here.