Rockwood Mansion Grounds Explored

When I heard about a new tour exploring hidden and lost features on the grounds of Rockwood Park and Museum, I had to sign up for this new walking tour of this 1851-54 Rural Gothic Mansion. Joseph Shipley of Wilmington had visited a home outside of Liverpool England and just had to build one just like it on a hill overlooking the Delaware River.

Originally consisting of many family farms, the now 72 acre property offers hiking and exploring, as well as Mansion tours (maybe in 2021) and a converted and expanded barn housing facilities for wedding and other gatherings. The barn also houses historical materials relating to the house. A large portion of the archives were given to the University of Delaware by a group to which I used to belong, the Friends of Rockwood. The Friends' dispute with the County several years ago resulted in the U of D getting their voluminous papers. Grant Barran, a Brit who was our guide today heads a new volunteer group, the Rockwood Park Preservation Society.

Most of the features such as the Springhouse, Barn, Gardener's Cottage, Gatehouse, and Edward's playhouse were places with which I was familiar. But the ruins of a garden house and gas house (with a platform above for viewing the river, which is totally blocked by trees now) were new to me, as well as tales of a former railroad station and apple orchard.  Assisting Mr. Barran was Rick Loveless, who is a contract worker for the County and the one who explores the woods (once the leaves are off the trees) to learn more about the remains of a water tower and windmill which pumped water up the hill to the Mansion.