Built in 1834 for William Rotch Jr., the Rotch-Jones-Duff (RJD) House is one of New Bedford’s finest examples of Greek Revival architecture.
Located in the historic County Street District, the mansion was intentionally set back from the street on a one-acre estate, allowing space for expansive gardens to the south. Over nearly 200 years, the home’s original floor plan, elegant woodwork, plaster ornamentation, and other defining architectural features have been carefully preserved by the Rotch, Jones, and Duff families.
The historic gardens reflect the vision of each family’s stewardship. William Rotch, a founding member of the New Bedford Horticultural Society, cultivated ornamental and productive gardens known for fruit, flowers, and prized pear trees. During the Jones family’s ownership, Victorian-style features—including the iconic pergola and formal rose parterre—shaped the landscape. In the 1930s, the Duff family commissioned a redesigned garden featuring ornamental beds, reflecting pools, and thousands of tulips.
Today, the gardens blend elements from all three eras and serve as a vibrant setting for educational programs, including a historic apiary, as well as concerts, tours, family activities, weddings, and community events.
