Elm Court

Elm Court is a single-family home in Berkshire County that spans roughly 90 acres (36 ha), surrounded by formal gardens with a water basin and a wisteria arch. The grounds also hold several greenhouses that reflect the owners' interest in botany.

The estate took shape from 1888, when a couple from New York acquired the land and hired architects to design the house. Later, a well-known landscape architect laid out the gardens, supplemented by herbaceous plantings from another designer in the early 20th century.

The name recalls the elms that once shaped the grounds, while the Tudor style with its timber frames and shingle cladding reflects the taste of wealthy families around 1900. Visitors can still see the wisteria arch by the water, showing how parks were designed as private retreats at the time.

The estate sits on a hilltop overlooking the Berkshires and is reached by a private drive that winds through wooded grounds. Visitors should wear sturdy shoes, as paths between gardens and greenhouses can be uneven.

The estate was one of the first major projects where the famous landscape architect reserved more than 40 acres (16 ha) solely for ornamental gardens. The combination of Tudor facade and American shingle cladding shows a rare building style that was popular for only a few years.

Location: Berkshire County

Architects: Peabody and Stearns

Architectural style: Tudor Revival architecture, Shingle style architecture

GPS coordinates: 42.33861,-73.29194

Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:27