Codman Estate

The Codman House in Lincoln, known as The Grange, stands as one of the most elegant and layered historic homes in Massachusetts, and is another home that we have visited often. There is something about returning to a place like this that deepens appreciation with each visit. Build around 1747, and later expanded, the house became the ancestral home of the Codman family, whose roots in the region stretch back to the colonial period. The Grange reveals generations of change with architectural additions, decorative taste and personal history woven together under one roof.

The estate is especially associated with Ogden Codman, Jr, the noted architect and interior designer who co-authored “The Decoration of Houses with Edith Wharton. His influence is evident in the refined interiors. But it is the gardens that are also captivating. Designed as a series of outdoor “rooms”, the landscape blends European-inspired symmetry with the natural contours of the Lincoln countryside. Walking the garden paths offers a different experience that touring the interior of the house.

The surrounding landscape is equally compelling with rolling lawns, old trees and thoughtfully composed vistas. The property later became part of the preservation movement and is now cared for by The Trustees of Reservations, ensuring that both the architecture and the grounds remain protected.

The Codman estate tells the story of the continuity of a family adapting across centuries and evolving design ideals.