The Property

Stonybrook is a field stone, English Cotswold, Gothic Revival style manor house. Originally part of a complex of similarly designed field stone buildings and appurtenances, including a beautiful multi-bay, cathedral-ceilinged Carriage House, a charming Gate Keeper's cottage and garden, and a perfectly proportioned and appointed Well & Pump House, Stonybrook and the neighboring environs are currently called the Stonybrook Estate Historic District which is now on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Collections

The current owners have a great affinity for the numerous European beech varieties on the property and great care is taken to protect the existing trees from the harsh ocean front conditions to which they are exposed. The highlight of the arboretum is two very different forms of weeping beech, one low and spreading and the other rising up, planted together that give the appearance of one large unique specimen on the corner of a creek bend. There are many mature specimens of Japanese conifers tucked in protected spots around the property keeping them away from the salty winds.

The Mission

The mission of Stonybrook Arboretum is to develop and show how a lush, thriving environment can be cultivated in what can be a unrelenting environment. New additions to the gardens are well thought out with care given to mature sizes and they are planted small to ease establishment in a harsh site. Sustainability is a primary focus for new species. New ocean resilient species are planted to replace declining trees to create buffers to protect the mature beeches from severe weather and regular ocean, salty winds.

Special Features

STONE BRIDGE

Stonybrook is named after the stone lined Little Creek that runs through the property. The most outstanding architectural feature of the property is the beautiful field stone bridge by the manor house that crosses the creek at its mouth where it enters the Sakonnet River. The creek meanders through the property and the owners are vigilant keeping encroaching invasive species out and maintaining a native stream edge. On either side of the stream-bed the arboretum is a mix of open spaces and groves of mature trees original to the house.

WEEPING BEECH

The highlight of the arboretum is two very different forms of weeping beech, one low and spreading and the other rising up, planted together that give the appearance of one large unique specimen on the corner of a creek bend.

A PIECE OF HISTORY

In 1928, sugar manufacturer and railroad executive, Edward Collings Knight Jr., commissioned the renowned Philadelphia architect, Horace Trumbauer, to design a smaller and less formal summer residence. Stonybrook Arboretum is located on the shores of the Sakonnet River Passage just north of Taggerts Ferry, across from St. Columba’s Chapel. The original 8-acre estate was subdivided in the 1980’s into five subdivisions. Stonybrook Arboretum is the 4.8-acre parcel that includes the original manor house.