Hempsted Houses

Hempsted Houses are at 11 Hempstead St. Built in 1678, the Joshua Hempsted House is the oldest house in town and is one of New England’s best documented dwellings. From 1711 until his death in 1758, Joshua kept a diary which today is a great source of information about Colonial New England as well as a look into the life of enslaved resident Adam Jackson. Adjacent is the stone 1759 Nathaniel Hempsted House, constructed by Joshua’s grandson, Nathaniel, a merchant and rope maker. Both structures survived the 1781 burning of New London and stand today as testaments of 17th- and 18th-century daily life.

Time: Allow 1 hour minimum.