The Dudley House, also known as the Perry-Dudley House, is a historic house at 14 Front Street in

Exeter, New Hampshire Exeter is a New England town, town in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States. Its population was 16,049 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, up from 14,306 at the 2010 census. Exeter was the county seat until 1997, when county ...

. Built about 1805, it is a prominent local example of Federal architecture, further notable for its occupation by two of the town's leading 19th-century doctors. The house was listed on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the Federal government of the United States, United States federal government's official United States National Register of Historic Places listings, list of sites, buildings, structures, Hist ...

in 1971. It now houses professional offices.

Description and history

The Dudley House occupies a prominent position on the east side of Front Street in downtown Exeter, nearly across the street from both the Congregational Church and Exeter Town Hall. It is a three-story wood-frame structure, with a hip roof and two interior brick chimneys. The main facade is five bays wide, with a center entrance sheltered by a gabled portico supported by two columns. The entrance is flanked by sidelight windows and fluted pilasters, and is topped by a transom window. The interior follows a center hall plan, although the main stair ascends from the back rather than the front. Later 19th-century additions include an ell and an attached carriage barn. The house was built sometime between about 1805 and 1813, and is one of Exeter's finest examples of Federal architecture. It was built for Dr. William Perry, who was for many years a leading physician of the town. He was succeeded in this role by his son, William Gilman Perry. During the latter's ownership, they probably hosted writer

Sarah Orne Jewett Theodora Sarah Orne Jewett (September 3, 1849 – June 24, 1909) was an American novelist, short story writer and poet, best known for her local color works set along or near the southern coast of Maine. Jewett is recognized as an important ...

, a family friend. Perry's daughter married Albertus Dudley, descendant of Rev. Samuel Dudley, one of the town's 17th-century ministers. The house remained in the hands of Dudley descendants until 1935.

References

{{NRHP in Rockingham County, New Hampshire Houses on the National Register of Historic Places in New Hampshire Federal architecture in New Hampshire Houses completed in 1805 Houses in Rockingham County, New Hampshire Buildings and structures in Exeter, New Hampshire National Register of Historic Places in Rockingham County, New Hampshire Historic district contributing properties in New Hampshire

Description and history

See also

References