Chepstow
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Chepstow

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Timed ticket required. Purchase in advance. Guide-led tours at 10:30 am, 11:30 am, 1:30 pm, 2:30 pm, 3:30 pm & 4:30 pm. An Italianate-style villa, Chepstow was built in 1860 by resident Newport architect George Champlin Mason as the Chepstow summer residence of Edmund Schermerhorn. Acquired by Mrs. Emily Morris Gallatin in 1911, the estate continued in the Morris family until bequeathed in 1986 to the Preservation Society, with its collections intact and an endowment by Mrs. Alletta Morris McBean. Chepstow contains the original Morris-Gallatin furnishings together with important 19th-century American paintings and documents from other former Morris family residences. Guide-led tours six times per day, Saturdays and Sundays only. Special timed ticket required.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.


4.0
4.0 of 5 bubbles61 reviews
Excellent
31
Very good
21
Average
1
Poor
6
Terrible
2

RandyRoss
Ridgetown, Canada12,803 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2024 • Couples
Chepstow is a smaller property owned by the Newport Preservation Society and like Hunter House, one must book a private tour here. Tours are 6 times per day and in groups of 10 or less - only on Fri, or Sat. We enjoyed this tour and liked this house quite well. It was beautiful but very livable and a reasonable size for a family.
Besides the house itself, we loved the trees at many of these Newport Mansions. At Chepstow, we particularly enjoyed the European Fern-leaf Beech tree (native to southern England). The tree here is over 100 years old.
Edmund Schermerhorn hired George Champlin Mason Sr. to build Chepstow in 1860 as a summer home. Schermerhorn was a first cousin of Mrs. Caroline. Astor, one of Newport's most active hostesses.
Written June 27, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

magill1986
East Greenwich, RI185 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2024 • Friends
A smaller mansion but was used more as a home in the latter 20th century. Some lovely design details.

Quite full of personal items and hardly a piece of wall not covered with art and photos etc. A bit much really but a lot of family history (multiple large homes) and nice it wasn’t all auctioned off. Would be nice to have a bit more time to look more closely at the art etc.

Nice enough tour, pleasant docent, space in some of the rooms a bit small for 10 tourists though - so rotating so every gets a glimpse meant not much time per space. But certainly a house that could be lived in now, compared to the entertainment summer homes.
Written June 8, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

wishIweretraveling
92 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2011 • Solo
I had purchased the Preservation Society's membership pass. Since I was in Newport for 5 days, I was determined to view all of the mansions. On my third day, I pulled the cord of the RIPTA trolley to get let off in front of Chepstow. The driver said, "I don't know why you're getting off here, nobody goes to that one." Nevertheless, I got off and glad that I did.
First of all, you need to make a reservation in order to see this home, which is probably why most visitors tend to skip it. However, I was told two days prior that I could not get a ticket for it until the day of my visit. So, I listened to him and waited. I got there about five minutes before the start of the 11am tour. I explained to the tour guide what I had been told about the ticket purchase and inquired as to whether he would let me join in on this tour, last minute. (Note: according to him, you CAN make a ticket purchase in advance at any one of the Preservations Society's ticket sales)
I am very glad that I was allowed to join in. The guide knew his history and offered a wonderful trip through the home! Though this house is much smaller than some of the others, it still has a lot to offer visitors. If you have the time, especially if you are Preservation Society membership, don't miss it. It's worth the time and the extra effort to make a reservation. (Note: I also feel that all of the homes that did not have the audio tours provided a much more personal and informative experience. I was impressed at each guide's knowledge and helpfullness. I found these tours to be better in the end. I especially enjoyed the Kingscote guide and tour. Apparently they rotate the guides throughout the week, so there is a different person each day. However, I learned that they had to take tests in order to be a guide a each building if they want to give tours there. Now that's a lot of information to absorb!)
Written July 27, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

meBriget
Memphis, TN37 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2016 • Solo
It's difficult to rate this house. On one hand, it's truly hideous. On the other hand, it's stunningly hideous and demonstrates that money does not equate to good taste. The late Mrs. McBean, who had last owned and lived in this house, had an obsession with doing cross-stitch. Image a room crammed full of crossed stitched chairs and sofas. Or just go to the house and see it for yourself! (The first room on the right inside the front door.) She also did décapage everywhere, including the outside of the claw foot tub in her bathroom. The "sun room" was one of the most ghastly rooms in the house - lime green, and the crowning touch: Lime green lattice on one wall! and even more cross-stitched cushions. There are some interesting and valuable pieces of art on the walls, but very easily overlooked as the place is a hoarder's dream, and it's difficult to separate one thing from the other in your field of vision. It sort of all runs together and collects in a muddy puddle in one's mind. But do try, as you will find some treasures.
Written August 25, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Nikko4Me
Milford, MA5,936 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2013 • Couples
This visit we went to Chateau sur Mer, Chepstow, Kingscote and Isaac Bell House on the Saturday of the Newport Wine & Food Festival. The only property we have seen before was Chateau sur Mer, all the others were our first time visiting.

Reading some of the reviews, we were not surprised that some of these properties are not visited as they are not as ornate/large/well known in comparison to The Breakers and Marble House. This is such a shame as these properties were just as interesting from a historical and architecture / interior design perspective. Each home had some interesting pieces of furniture or decorative pieces, many with an interesting story attached to it.

It would be nice to be able to see these properties at your own pace, rather than have to be crowded with a group (in some of the spaces) on a guided tour.

Chepstow had an informative brochure on its history along with some photos….wish that each property had this (even if they were laminated and turned back in). The guide was informative and highlighted various items in each room, including details of the adored dog, Lilly. We were shown items that were from the Morris’ other property Malbone, also in Newport as well as items that could also be seen in Kingscote (dog figural umbrella stand).

From Chepstow, we toured Kingscote at 12:30pm
Written September 23, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Sonja B
Jamestown, NC111 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2014 • Couples
We had tickets good for any 5 properties and we had seen Marble House, The Breakers, and Kingscote the last time we were in Newport, so we decided to see five of the properties this time that we hadn't seen before. Chepstow is smaller and has more modern furnishings, but I am glad I visited. There were only 3 of us on the tour. The guide, Penny, was personable and well-versed in the home's interior and exterior. There are many examples of the owner's own personal craft 'projects' in the home; she was fond of needlepoint and decoupage, especially. She surrounded herself with things from her mother's homes in New York. The home is not as big or as opulent as some of the others available for touring but it has its own charm to offer. You can see the treasures up close. It felt comfortable to me. Penny also pointed out a very large Beech tree outside that is worth spending some time under! I don't know why anyone WOULDN'T visit this house! Go and enjoy.
Written July 22, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Richard B
Tinton Falls, NJ155 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2019 • Couples
The house is cluttered with furniture and tacky Knick-knacks collected by an egotistical owner who deeded the property to display what she felt the public should see i.e. references to relatives of centuries past as well as her amateurish hobby projects.
Written September 28, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Linda M
Staten Island, NY59 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2019 • Couples
One of my favorite mansions of the Preservation Society is Chepstow. Full of beautiful historic furnishings aet in a livable setting. Philip was our tour guide. He was excellent. The grounds are beautiful. It feels like a real home . I love this place.
Written August 27, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Nol v
Haarlem, The Netherlands194 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2018 • Family
My son and I decided that this year we'd visit all the (Preservation Society) Newport Mansions. Chepstow is a large house, but is feels like a "home" Some of the Mansions look like a museum, wonderful; but large and imposing. Chepstow feels like the owners took a day off and allowed me to have a look around. The tour was good and the docent did a very good job. It helped of course that there were not many people so it looked like a private tour.
Written August 1, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Dean_Amy-2004
Gettysburg, PA8,376 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2017 • Solo
One of several mansions I was able to tour. This is a guided tour on the top of each hour. Pictures are permitted, but no flashes. Each of the Preservation Society homes offers a parking lot by the house for free or you can walk from house to house (ranges between 5-15 minute walks between the houses).
Well worth the time and money to visit this house. If you plan to see multiple homes, the Newport Experience or Society membership are the best deals. They offer military discounts on the membership and AAA discounts on tickets.
Written October 26, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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