Coffin House was occupied by the Coffin family over three centuries, and provides fascinating insight into domestic life in rural New England. The structure, which contains the family's furnishings, began as a simple dwelling built in the post-medieval style. Tristram Coffin and his family lived, cooked, and slept in two or possibly three rooms; their possessions were few. Beginning in 1712, the h
ouse more than doubled in size to provide living space for a married son and his family. As the family grew, they added partitions and lean-tos so that different generations could continue to live together under one roof. In 1785, two Coffin brothers legally divided the structure into two separate dwellings, each with its own kitchen and living spaces. With rooms from the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries, Coffin House depicts the impact of an expanding economy and new concepts, such as the notion of privacy, on architecture and modes of living. Open
First and third Saturdays, June 1 - October 15
11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Tours on the hour. Last tour at 4:00 p.m. Admission
$8 adults
$7 seniors
$4 students
Free for Historic New England members and Newbury residents
Directions: Coffin House is on Route 1A in Newbury, across from the First Parish Burying Ground. Parking: On-street parking is permitted for short periods of time.
