When was Clingstone house built and why?

Clingstone was built in 1905 by the nephew of industrialist Joseph Wharton after the government condemned his previous summer home to construct Fort Wetherill. The original owner chose to build this 23-room shingle-style cottage on a rocky island in Narragansett Bay near Jamestown, Rhode Island, as his new summer retreat.

Where exactly is Clingstone located and how do I get there?

Clingstone is located on a small rocky island called one of 'The Dumplings' in Narragansett Bay near Jamestown, Rhode Island. Since the house sits on an island, visiting requires boat access from the mainland, making it a unique destination that's best reached by private vessel or organized tour.

What makes Clingstone's architecture special?

The house was designed by Philadelphia socialite J. S. Lovering Wharton and artist William Trost Richards as a three-story, 10,000-square-foot shingle-style cottage featuring heavy mill-type framing specifically engineered to withstand hurricane-force winds. This innovative structural design allowed the house to survive the devastating 1938 hurricane with minimal damage despite its exposed island location.

Why is the house called 'Clingstone'?

The name 'Clingstone' was suggested by a remark that it was 'a peach of a house,' a playful reference to the famous Clingstone peach variety. The house is also locally known as 'The House on a Rock' due to its dramatic perch atop the rocky island.

What is the ownership history of Clingstone?

The original owner, Joseph Wharton's nephew, summered at Clingstone until his death in 1931, after which the property remained largely vacant until his wife's death in 1957. Boston architect Henry Wood, a distant cousin of the Philadelphia Whartons, purchased the property in 1961 for just $3,600—the amount owed in back taxes—and took on its restoration and stewardship.

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Clingstone,the House on the rock

Name: Clingstone,the House on the rock
Rating: 4.2

Fort Wetherill Rd, Jamestown, RI 02835, Stati Uniti• ★★★★☆• 622 views

Fabiana Rocca

Jamestown

About Clingstone,the House on the rock

Clingstone is a house built in 1905, perched atop a small, rocky island in an island group called "The Dumplings" in Narragansett Bay, near Jamestown, Rhode Island. The dwelling, designed by Philadelphia socialite J. S. Lovering Wharton and artist William Trost Richards, is a three-story 23-room 10,000-square-foot shingle-style cottage.The structural system of heavy mill-type framing was designed to withstand hurricane-force winds.The name "Clingstone" was suggested by a remark that it was "a peach of a house".The original owner, a nephew of industrialist Joseph Wharton, built the house in response to the government condemning his earlier summer home in order to build Fort Wetherill. Wharton summered there until his death in 1931. Although little damaged by a hurricane in 1938, the residence was still vacant at the time of his wife's death in 1957 until it was purchased in 1961 by Boston architect Henry Wood. Wood, a distant cousin of the Philadelphia Whartons, was able to purchase the property for $3,600, the amount owed in back taxes.The house is known by locals as "The House on a Rock".