Gov. Thomas Hutchinson's Ha-ha
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Gov. Thomas Hutchinson's Ha-ha | |
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| Location | 100-122 Randolph Ave., Milton, Massachusetts |
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| Coordinates | 42°15′55″N 71°4′4″W / 42.26528°N 71.06778°W / 42.26528; -71.06778 |
| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1771 (1771) |
| Part of | Milton Hill Historic District (ID95000698) |
| NRHP reference No. | 75000290[1] |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | February 13, 1975 |
| Designated CP | June 9, 1995 |
Gov. Thomas Hutchinson's Ha-ha is a historic ha-ha at 100–122 Randolph Avenue in Milton, Massachusetts, United States. Probably built about 1771, it is the only surviving structure of the once-extensive estate of Thomas Hutchinson, the last civilian colonial governor of the British Province of Massachusetts Bay, and one of the few examples of an early ha-ha in North America. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975, and is a contributing property to the Milton Hill Historic District.[2][1]
A ha-ha is a sunken wall which permits unblocked views, while still serving functions of a wall such as delineating a border or preventing livestock from accessing portions of a larger estate. This ha-ha, which is of modest size, is located on the grounds of St. Michael's Church at 100 Randolph Avenue, approximately one block from Governor Hutchinson's Field, a property of The Trustees of Reservations that was also once part of Hutchinson's estate.[2] The ha-ha is marked by a descriptive sign.
The ha-ha is about 120 feet (37 m) long, and is in appearance a stone-lined ditch 6 feet (1.8 m) wide and 4 feet (1.2 m) deep, running roughly north-south. One side of the ditch is slanted and lined with puddingstone. The top of the slant is finished with cut granite blocks. The ha-ha originally lined the western edge of Hutchinson's formal garden; this garden survived into the 20th century, but a house has since been built on the site.[2]
The ha-ha was constructed by then-Acting Governor Thomas Hutchinson, probably about 1771. It was around this time that Horace Walpole published a book which contained a detailed description of ha-has and their function enhancing the aesthetics of large estates.[2]
See also
References
- 1 2 "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
- 1 2 3 4 "MACRIS inventory record and NRHP nomination for Gov. Thomas Hutchinson's Ha-ha". Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Retrieved 2014-05-24.