Amesbury Friends Meeting House

The Amesbury Friends Meeting House is a Quaker gathering place in town built in Greek Revival style with a clapboard exterior and three bays along its front. A covered vestibule spans the full width of the main facade, serving as an entrance to the interior worship space.

The building was constructed in 1851 under guidance from John Greenleaf Whittier, replacing three earlier structures that stood on this site since 1705. The location has served the local Quaker community as a gathering place across multiple generations.

The interior features movable partitions operated by pulleys that allow the main hall to transform for different types of Quaker gatherings. This adaptable design reflects how members approach their worship without fixed hierarchies or formal structures.

The meeting house operates in the heart of Amesbury and remains an active gathering place for the Quaker community with regular meetings held throughout the week. Visitors should approach the site respectfully, keeping in mind its continued use as a place of worship and reflection.

A commemorative plaque marks the location where the renowned poet and abolitionist once regularly sat during gatherings. This modest marker preserves the memory of a figure who shaped both the building and the broader social movements of his era.

Location: Amesbury

Address: 120 Friend Street

GPS coordinates: 42.85500,-70.93861

Latest update: December 14, 2025 17:00