DEMOLISHED | Built 1916 | 12,899 Sq. Ft. | 8 Beds | 6.5+ Baths | 2.4 Acres
Greenwich, Connecticut
Once regarded as one of “Greenwich’s Great Estates,” The Pryory, a grand manor spanning over 12,000 square feet in Cotswold style, was demolished after being listed for approximately $25.9 million in 2018. This estate was designed by the architectural firm Cross & Cross to resemble an English countryside estate and was built in 1916 for Samuel Frazier Pryor and his wife, Ruby Jacques Pryor. The residence featured 22 rooms and was set on 2.4 acres, which included a swimming pool, tennis court, private beach, mooring, and 75 feet of direct water access. The property garnered significant attention in a 2018 article from Greenwich Time, where the owners mentioned, “We restored the house in 1998, having all the woodwork stripped down on both the first and second floors, including the staircase and entryway.” In this article, they revealed that Sotheby’s had come in to apply a French polish to the wooden details. “Using the original ‘navy’ blueprints, we restored the great room to mirror its original appearance when the house was first built,” the homeowner recalled in their conversation with Greenwich Time. Information regarding the planned demolition was released by Preservation Greenwich in 2021.
Previous listing highlights: Situated along the stunning Long Island Sound, Field Point Circle is renowned as Greenwich’s top neighborhood and ranks among the ten most prestigious addresses in the United States. The Field Point Circle Association, comprising 27 estate homes, offers a single access point and round-the-clock security. Designed by the acclaimed architectural firm Cross & Cross to reflect an English countryside estate, The Pryory was located on 2.4 waterfront acres featuring a private beach and mooring. Situated on a hill, the property’s expansive grounds flowed from the rear terrace down to the pool and softly lapping water. The ivy-clad front entrance led into a grand entryway featuring a dramatic three-story carved wooden staircase. The adjoining double living room was framed by elegant fireplaces and received ample natural light from a multitude of windows and French doors that opened to the terrace and water beyond. Most rooms offered picturesque water views, including the Great Room, dressed in tiger oak and featuring hexagonal patterned ceilings that soared high above. As one of Greenwich’s distinguished Great Estates, The Pryory exemplified exceptional craftsmanship, materials, architecture, and landscaping in an exclusive coastal setting.
