A House That Had It All, Including A Rumford Kitchen - The Rundlet-May House, Portsmouth, NH

House Museum

Oct 28

Merchant James Rundlet and his wife Jane built their Portsmouth home in 1807. The home was an urban showplace, filled with all the finest home furnishings and latest innovations of the day. Mr. Rundlet acquired most of his wealth in the textile industry and was able to preserve his fortune, and thrived, when many other lost theirs during Thomas Jefferson’s Embargo Act of 1807. Rundlet procured the wool used to make the soldiers’ uniforms during the War of 1812.

Ralph May, Mr. Rundlet’s great-grandson, gave the house, the original contents, as well as some added by later generations, and the extensive documentation, to the organization Historic New England and they run it as a house museum. There are formal gardens, orchard and pet cemetery on the grounds.

This is what caught my eye, I hope you enjoy!

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The Federal-style mansion on a man-made hill on Middle Street in downtown Portsmouth, NH

The front facade of the three-story home, designed to impress

The back entrance

A few views of the complex of connected handsome outbuildings

The main staircase in the entrance hall

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The parlor

The dining room

This is the round Rumford roaster in the wall of the kitchen

The six small doors below the counterserve the Rumford range which is covered by the updated countertop.

In this image you can see both the Rumford roaster and kettle system

The kitchen

This room behind the kitchen shows the kettle system as well as the elaborate venting system that services a smoke room on the third floor. Off of this room was the indoor well that would not freeze over.

The home’s grand front entrance with a central heat register built into the floor, warming family and visitors upon entering the home.

Second floor bedrooms

The second floor hall

This was taken in Ralph May’s third floor “man cave”, which is filled with memories of May’s live, collections, books and awards.

What you should know:

Tickets can be bought on-line or in person.
There are guided tours; check the website for tour times.
There is ample on the street parking.
The house is not open every day; check the website for days and hours of operation.
Yearly memberships for Historic New England can be purchased here. This membership entitles the bearer to admission to any of the 30+ properties the organization runs in Massachusetts, Rhone Island, Connecticut, New Hampshire and Maine

Location: 364 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH. 03801

For more information: Rundlet-May House