Built between 1851 and 1854 by banker Joseph Shipley, Rockwood is an excellent example of Rural Gothic Revival Architecture.

Rockwood Mansion was inspired by Wyncote, Joseph Shipley's English country house designed by George Williams.

Joseph Shipley moved his entire household from England bringing his favorite dog and horse (Toby and Branker), as well as gardener Robert Shaw and housekeeper Audrey Douglas.

After Joseph Shipley's death, Rockwood eventually became the property of his great nephew Edward Bringhurst Jr. in 1891.

Bringhurst with his wife Anna and their three younger children Mary, Edith and Edward moved into Rockwood the next year.

The six acre historic garden of Rockwood, extent from the early 1850s, is surrounded by a ha-ha (a sunken wall used on English estates instead of a fence to keep livestock away from the house, so it appears that the lawns are continuous).

Trail maps and self-guided Historic Landscape Garden tour brochures are available at the mansion Wednesday - Sunday 10am - 4pm.