Mary Brown’s Dingle

Mary Brown’s Dingle

Northampton, Massachusetts 01060

Mary Brown’s Dingle map

About this Location

Mary Brown's Dingle is a historic house located in Northampton. It was built in 1730 by Mary Brown, a widow who owned a large tract of land along the Mill River. The house is a rare example of a colonial-era saltbox, with a steeply pitched roof and a central chimney. The house was named after a small wooded valley, or dingle, surrounding it. The house's grounds include a barn, a well, a herb garden, and a stone wall that marks the original boundary of the property. Mary Brown and her descendants occupied the house until 1919 when it was sold to the Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities. Today, the house is open to the public as a museum, showcasing the life and history of one of Northampton's earliest families.

The dingle is a 1.5-acre area comprised of small trees and shrubs and serves as a natural open space and bird habitat in a residential neighborhood. A city storm sewer easement runs through the middle of it. 

Features

  • Restrooms on site

  • Wheelchair accessible trail

  • Entrance fee

Last updated November 29, 2023