262 Brushy Ridge Road in New Canaan, CT: The Grand Legacy of Pemberly Hill

Originally built in 1880 by John Patterson, a Scottish immigrant and master craftsman, Pemberly Hill at 262 Brushy Ridge Road in New Canaan, CT began as a 40-acre subsistence farm. Patterson, known for his work in private livery, founded John Patterson & Co., a well-established firm in New York and Newport that outfitted the staff of elite clientele. His estate featured a large main home, a working farm, and 10-foot-wide stone walls.

In 1914, Patterson’s son, Alan, sold part of the estate to Dr. John Elmer Weeks, a physician and researcher who co-discovered the Koch-Weeks bacillus, a cause of acute conjunctivitis. Weeks, a professor at NYU, owned the property until 1928. In 1940, it was acquired by Ursula Parrott, a novelist best known for Ex-Wife (1929), a book that challenged societal views on marriage and divorce. Parrott’s life was as dramatic as her fiction, including rumored ties to F. Scott Fitzgerald and an arrest in 1942 for allegedly helping a jazz musician escape military custody, though she was later acquitted.

The estate later passed to James Thrall Soby, an art collector and MoMA trustee who helped shape the museum’s modern art collection. Soby commissioned Alexander Calder’s Well Sweep, a large standing mobile later donated to the Met. The home was featured in Vogue in 1961, highlighting Soby’s extensive art collection and appreciation for historic homes. After Soby’s passing, the estate was purchased in 1980 by Arthur and Audrey Lamborn, who raised their family there. The property has since undergone a renovation that preserves its architectural integrity while adding modern conveniences.

Today, Pemberly Hill is a 14,000+ square-foot residence set on four private acres. The grand foyer and staircase create a dramatic entrance, leading to formal living and dining rooms with 11-foot ceilings, restored moldings, and four wood-burning fireplaces.

The spacious gourmet kitchen is designed for both everyday living and entertaining, featuring high-end appliances, a large island with a breakfast bar, a butler’s pantry with a wet bar, and a walk-in pantry. The second floor includes a private primary suite with a sitting room, refrigerator, sink, and a balcony overlooking the grounds. The suite has two walk-in closets and a large bath with a steam shower and soaking tub. Additional bedrooms each feature en suite baths and walk-in closets. Two east-facing bathrooms have radiant heated floors, while a second-floor laundry room with dual washers and dryers adds convenience.

The third floor has three additional bedrooms, a sitting room, and two bathrooms, with seasonal views of Long Island Sound. The lower level includes a walk-out family room with a gas fireplace, a fully equipped gym, a second kitchen, a full bath, and a pool cabana.

The four-acre property has been designed for privacy and outdoor enjoyment, with landscaped gardens, a pool, and multiple seating areas. A Har-Tru tennis court provides additional recreation. Located on one of New Canaan’s most sought-after streets, Pemberly Hill is within easy reach of shopping, dining, and cultural attractions.

The property is currently on the market for $9,500,000 (as of 02/24/2025).

Listing Agents: Taylor Tait & Michele Murray Sloan