Burnham-Patch House
Why it's listed
Standing at the southern end of Turkey Shore Road, an ancient way along the Ipswich River, this 2 1/2 story house has an end-gable roof, a central chimney, and a five-bay symmetrical facade with a pilastered center entry. The front section dates to about 1730, while the large rear ell is early 19th-century in style. Thomas Burnham bought the land in 1667, and the property stayed in his family until 1795, when Col. John Patch, a Revolutionary War figure and privateer who owned Castle Hill, acquired it. In 1814 Abner Day bought it and ran the Franklin House tavern, a headquarters for Essex County Whigs. Reused timbers in the cellar and an East Anglian-type roof frame point to an earlier house from the 1670s. Its chief importance lies in the extensive 18th-century paneling, including a high-style fireplace. Preservation easements now protect the house.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is one of Ipswich's best preserved examples of early 18th-century architecture, with high-style fireplace paneling more sophisticated than most in comparable houses. It is also tied to Ipswich's early development through owners Thomas Burnham, Col. John Patch, and tavern keeper Abner Day. It occupies a key site at the southern end of Turkey Shore Road.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 80000452, listed September 17, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1 Turkey Shore Rd., Ipswich |
|---|---|
| County | Essex County |
| Listed | September 17, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80000452 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Second Period |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | National, State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is residential; the owners have placed preservation easements on the house through an agreement with the Ipswich Historical Commission. |
| Acreage | 1.2 |
| Coordinates | 42.67644, -70.83307 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 80000452.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4999726
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.