The Lyndhurst Mansion
If you're planning to be in or near Westchester County, New York this summer, try to visit Lyndhurst, a magnificent Gothic Revival country estate and National Historic Landmark located on 67 sprawling acres beside the Hudson River in Tarrytown.
Lyndhurst, which is also known as the Jay Gould estate, was owned and shaped by three prominent area families - The Pauldings, The Merritts, and lastly, by railroad tycoon and financier, Jay Gould. Purchased in 1880, Jay occupied the home until his death in 1892. In 1961, his daughter Anna Gould donated it to the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The estate features 16 elaborately decorated rooms - many lovingly restored and including original furniture left in the home. The surrounding park is an outstanding example of 19th-century landscape design with expansive lawns, specimen tree groves, and curved carriage roads. The property also includes a children's cottage, a bowling alley, a laundry building, a pool house, and the exterior of what was once considered the largest private greenhouse complex in the country.
Here are some photos, enjoy.
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- The mansion was designed in 1838 by architect Alexander Jackson Davis in a romantic Gothic Revival style. The original structure was doubled in size between 1864 and 1867 to what is seen today.
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- Lyndhurst is situated beside the Hudson River about a half mile south of the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge, formerly known as the Tappan Zee Bridge. On a clear day, one can see New York City.
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- The property boasts some beautiful mature trees – some planted in groves and stands and some singly.
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- The main house has a soaring two-floor Art Gallery, which was once also used as a library and billiards room. Today, the room is filled with 19th century academic paintings along with Tiffany glass windows and other period furnishings designed by Davis.
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- On the first floor are several sitting areas and parlors – all meticulously maintained.
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- The Dining Room at Lyndhurst still contains the original Gothic Revival dining table and chairs designed by Alexander Jackson Davis for the Merrit Family in 1865.
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- This is one of the bed chambers in the home. It includes a very ornate period bed.
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- The family bathrooms were large in its day with marble sink counters and claw foot tubs.
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- This beautiful spiral wood back staircase takes visitors up to the fifth floor tower where one can see panoramic views of the Hudson River and New York City as well as all the way down to the basement kitchen.
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- Here is the main kitchen – still decorated with many of the 19th century cooking elements, tools and supplies. This room had great light and ample space.
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- This is the large stove behind the kitchen table.
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- Staff would gather and eat at this table – it was a dream to work in a kitchen like this one in its time.
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- Various tables are filled with types of items possibly used during that era.
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- Just outside the kitchen is where pickling and preserving was done.
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- And across the carriage road is the Laundry Building, where the housekeeping staff would wash, iron and mend cloth items.
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- This wall is lined with large, deep sinks for washing delicates.
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- The servants’ rooms were also rather spacious. This one was likely occupied by the head of staff – it includes a bed, a small sitting area and a private bathroom.
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- And not far from the main house is the Bowling Alley, one of the earliest bowling lanes in the United States. Anna Gould used the bowling alley for visiting soldiers during World War II. Although the structure fell into disrepair in the 1950s, it was restored and opened for public tours. The building was also used as a school where local women could learn sewing and other skills.
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- Here is the children’s playhouse, the Rose Cottage. It is nestled beneath the shade of mature trees just steps from the main house.
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- Inside there was full sized furniture where the children could rest after playing in the warm summer sun.
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- Here is the cottage from afar. The entire Lyndhurst estate is a wonderful and picturesque escape from the busy city – still as beautiful now as it was in the 1800s. Please visit the next time you are in the area. You can learn more about Lyndhurst on their web site at lyndhurst.org.
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