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taboo5 | profile | all galleries >> United States >> Mansions, Estates, Gardens, Churches, Zoos and Museums in the U.S. >> Hudson Valley, NY Mansions, Estates, Gardens, Churches and Schools >> Lyndhurst Estate at Tarrytown, NY (October 2009) tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Lyndhurst Estate at Tarrytown, NY (October 2009)

Lyndhurst, also known as Jay Gould Estate, is one of the finest Gothic Revival mansions in the United States. It is located in a 67-acre park in Tarrytown, NY along the banks of the Hudson River. Lyndhurst was designed in 1838 by Alexander Jackson Davis, for New York City Mayor William Paulding, Jr. When Mayor Paulding built the house, he named it the “Knoll,” but his critics called it "Paulding's Folly" because of its unusual design and fanciful turrets. The second owner, George Merritt, using the original architect, doubled the size of the house between 1864-1865 adding a north wing, as well as a four-story tower. He renamed it “Lyndenhurst,” after the linden trees on the property. The third owner was the railroad tycoon, Jay Gould, who bought the house in 1880 as his country home. He shortened the name to “Lyndhurst.” Gould lived there with his family until he died from tuberculosis in 1892. The grounds of Lyndhurst are an example of 19th century landscaping, designed by Ferdinand Mangold in the English naturalistic style. He was hired by the second owner, Merritt. Mangold drained swamps, created lawns, planted trees and built the conservatory. Jay Gould's daughter, Helen, took over the property until her in death in 1938, when her sister, Anna, Duchess of Talleyrand-Perigord, returned from France to maintain Lyndhurst. When she died in 1961, the estate was turned over to the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Lyndhurst Estate at Tarrytown, NY cover page.
Lyndhurst Estate at Tarrytown, NY cover page.		 Map of Tarrytown showing the location of Lyndhurst.
Map of Tarrytown showing the location of Lyndhurst.		 Photograph of Jay Gould in middle age. He died in 1892 at age 56 of tuberculosis.
Photograph of Jay Gould in middle age. He died in 1892 at age 56 of tuberculosis.		 Lyndhurst in late afternoon through the trees. It was named Lyndhurst because of the linden trees on the property.
Lyndhurst in late afternoon through the trees. It was named Lyndhurst because of the linden trees on the property.
The exterior of Lyndhurst looks like a Gothic church.
The exterior of Lyndhurst looks like a Gothic church.		 Front view of the estate. The sun was facing the camera.
Front view of the estate. The sun was facing the camera.		 A statue and fountain on the southern end of Lyndhurst.
A statue and fountain on the southern end of Lyndhurst.		 Looking west from Lyndhurst at the Hudson River and Tappan Zee Bridge. The trees were changing colors since it was October.
Looking west from Lyndhurst at the Hudson River and Tappan Zee Bridge. The trees were changing colors since it was October.
Rear view and west façade of the mansion from the lawn below with its imposing Gothic Revival tower.
Rear view and west façade of the mansion from the lawn below with its imposing Gothic Revival tower.		 The limestone exterior was quarried at Sing Sing (now known as Ossining).
The limestone exterior was quarried at Sing Sing (now known as Ossining).		 View of Lyndhurst at dusk from the front lawn.
View of Lyndhurst at dusk from the front lawn.		 The fanciful turrets, porte-cochere and asymmetrical outline make Lyndhurst unique among mansions on the Hudson River.
The fanciful turrets, porte-cochere and asymmetrical outline make Lyndhurst unique among mansions on the Hudson River.

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