The place was not awful in any way, but for your money you hope it would be nicer. As Peg notes, the doors are swollen, and mine was hanging slightly off the hinges and had to be positioned in a certain way to close it. The bed also sank in the middle. The place was clean, but the bathroom looked old and unattractive. Had there been other guests at the time, we would have had to share the bathroom. It was convenient, however, to have a mini-fridge in the room. But it looked like there was some of her merchandise stowed under the bed as well. The place is all right, but not as charming as it looks on the website. Next time, I'd rather stay at a hotel.

We had the pleasure of staying at the Henry Derby on March 31 and April 1 of this year. Located in the historic district and close to the downtown area, it was very easy to get around to see the sights of this historic city and Peg the owner was filled with info on what to see and where to shop depending on our peferences.
My initial concerns were the weathered exterior but the interior was in fabulous condition and our stay was quite comfortable and the home offered all the charm of the period. The owner lived next door and offered no hesitation to any thing that would make our stay a memorable one. P.S. The breakfasts offered were excellent compared to other B N Bs I have stayed and Peg was a gracious hostess. Based on our stay, I would highly recommend the Henry Derby to anyone who wishes to visit Salem and all its charm.
Sincerely
Molly A. B.
Nokomis Fl.

We found it ot be very cozy and the hostess Peg to be very welcoming and accomodating. The rooms are very clean and very pretty and true to the time period of the home.The price was good for the location so close to downtown. And the breakfast could hardly be described as continental, with the fresh fruits and bakery items and several gourmet cereals to choose from. We were surprised and pleased to have our hostess accompany us at breakfast and make sure we had everything we needed for a comfortable stay. I would definately stay there again. A+

I never write web-reviews -- time-allocation decision -- but while preparing a return visit to the Henry Derby House I came across the quasi-libellous reviews posted below and simply cannot leave them unanswered. Henry Derby is everything you want in a New England bed and breakfast, quirks and all.

I was traveling alone, visiting friends in the Salem area. I booked the room with ease, and basically wanted to propose marriage to the place as soon as I arrived. Just walking the gardens is worth the price of a room; prize-winning gardens, I later learned. Staircases and hallways are narrow, built for wee 18th century folk, but if you're too big-boned to enjoy the cozy charm it's your loss. The chatty proprietress Peg clearly enjoys having guests -- one almost gets the impression she'd let people stay there for free. Plus she served an absolutely kick-ass cheese danish.

It's hard to imagine what else anyone could ask from a B&B of this type. Don't hesitate to book a room here. If you're anything like me, you'll come back again and again.