First Unitarian Church Parish House
1 Benevolent Street

This addition resulted from many years of study and planning by the First Unitarian congregation to enlarge their resources for religious education, church administration, and community fellowship. Centerbrook Architects and James Barnes Architects worked with general contractors Case Construction to create a seamless infill along the south side of Benevolent Street. The result meets programmatic requirements of the congregation while respecting the historical significance of the John Holden Greene-designed First Unitarian Church and College Hill. This project was the recipient of our 2002 New Construction award.

 

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organization > The Garden

The Garden at Shakespeare’s Head

We get a lot of visitors and inquiries about the "Shakespeare's Head Garden" at 21 Meeting Street. Landscape design and care has been provided by our member at large and devotee, Lalla Searle. Below is some more information and photos about the history of the garden and the house.

The name "Shakespeare's Head" recalls the colonial era when the building at 21 Meeting Street was used as a print shop by John Carter and had a sign of Shakespeare's Head on a pole to advertise.

After the 1938 hurricane, the garden was redesigned by the landscape architect, James Graham in the Colonial Revival style. Since then, it has been modified slightly to simplify maintenance and more accurately reflect the earlier Colonial period of then house itself. The Barbara S. Gwynne Fund provides for the ongoing care of the garden.

Garden Plan

Plant List: Carolina Silverbell, Common Lilacs, Thift, Foxgloves, Rosa Mundi, Scotch Rose, Fothergilla, Native Columbine, Gas Plant, Dwarf Viburnum, Tree Peony, Common Boxwood, Magnolia, Germander, Rose of Sharon, Barlett Pear Trees, Lady Fern, Herbacious Peony, False Fern, Herbaceous Peony, False Indigo, Quince Tree, Linden Tree, Currants, Wisteria, Cork Tree, and Goatsbeard.

Garden images

RI Rhode Island Preservation Preserve Society Group Board