Rocky Hill Meeting House, c. 1785
4 Portsmouth Road
Amesbury, Mass.
RockyHillMeetingHouse@HistoricNewEngland.org
Directions
Open May 18 and June 28, 12-4pm
Admission : Free
Group tours available with advanced reservations.
Please call 978-462-2634, June 1 through October 15.
The Rocky Hill Meeting House is, by far, the best preserved
example of an original 18th century meeting house interior in New
England. It was built in 1785, replacing a c. 1715 meeting house for
the West Parish of Salisbury, the Rocky Hill Meeting House was built
in 1785. It was strategically placed along the only road that crossed
(via ferry) the swift Powow River and led travelers to the Salisbury
Point area and onward towards Portsmouth. In fact, George Washington
paused here to greet the townspeople on his northward journey in 1789.
With the beginnings of industrialization
around 1800, and improved access into the area, a new mill town arose
on the banks of the Powow. Trapped by geography between the
successful mill town to the west and the coastal fishermen and
farmers to the east and south, the West Parish quickly found itself
in difficult financial straits.
The economic situation, coupled with new ideas about religion and
architecture and the construction of two new churches in the area,
led the meeting house's congregation to steadily drift away. By the
1840s, regular religious services came to an end at Rocky Hill
Meeting House.
As a result of the desuetude that faced the area, funds were not
available for alterations to the meeting house. Thus, Rocky Hill has
survived with its original fittings and finishes intact. The pews
have never been painted, while the marbleized pulpit and pillars
supporting the galleries still boast their original paint. In
addition, the original 18th century hardware survives throughout the
building. SPNEA, now known as Historic New England, acquired the property in 1941 and continues to
safeguard the building.
Discover more about the Rocky Hill Meeting House in the Historic
New England magazine archives:
