Skip to Main Content

Groton, Massachusetts: Bancroft's Castle

Bankrolled by businessman William Bancroft in the early 1900s, it fell into ruin after a fireworks accident in 1932. Small, but open to the public.

Address:
119 Lowell Rd, Groton, MA
Directions:
Entrance to the path to the castle is on the north side of MA-40/Lowell Rd, a quarter-mile east of the Gibbet Hill Grill. There's a small pull-off next to the trail entrance on Lowell Rd, or you can park at the back of the Gibbet Hill Grill lot and then walk along Lowell Rd to the path entrance.
Save to My Sights

Visitor Tips and News About Bancroft's Castle

Reports and tips from RoadsideAmerica.com visitors and Roadside America mobile tipsters. Some tips may not be verified. Submit your own tip.

Bancroft Castle.

Bancroft's Castle

The view from the top of Bancroft's Castle is spectacular. Great walk!

[Mel, 04/24/2021]

Bancroft Castle.

Bancroft's Castle

Castle ruins on Gibbet Hill. Free to visit. At the top of a hill, overlooking fields.

[Peggy, 09/07/2019]

The castle was bankrolled by businessman William Bancroft in the early 1900s, who ran out of money before he got very far. Most of what was built was destroyed by careless fireworks in 1932. Probably the only "castle" conquered by cherry bombs and bottle rockets.


Nearby Offbeat Places

Head of the EgopantisHead of the Egopantis, Shirley, MA - 5 mi.
Indian Muffler ManIndian Muffler Man, Shirley, MA - 5 mi.
Edgar Allan Poe Was HereEdgar Allan Poe Was Here, Westford, MA - 6 mi.
In the region:
Make Way For Ducklings, Boston, MA - 30 mi.

Latest Tips Across Roadside America

Catch up on the latest discoveries from the road.

Explore Thousands of Oddball Tourist Attractions!

Unique destinations in the U.S. and Canada are our special obsession. Use our attraction recommendation and maps to plan your next road trip.

My Sights

My Sights on Roadside America

Create and Save Your Own Crazy Road Trip! ...Try My Sights

Mobile Apps

Roadside America app: iPhone, iPad Roadside America app for iPhone, iPad. On-route maps, 1,000s of photos, special research targets! ...More

Roadside Presidents app: iPhone, iPad Roadside Presidents app for iPhone, iPad. POTUS landmarks, oddities. ...More

Massachusetts Latest Tips and Stories

Latest Visitor Tips

Sight of the Week

Sight of the Week

JFK's World Famous Twine Ball, Highland, Wisconsin (Mar 18-24, 2024)

SotW Archive

USA and Canada Tips and Stories

More Sightings

Favorite Quirky City Sights