Lyford’s Lyking

Hingham, MA 02043, USA

Hingham Conservation: (781) 741-1445

Owned By: Town of Hingham

• Directions

Features

This 6.63-acre Hingham Conservation property is named for John Lyford, the Pilgrims’ first minister, who was banished from the colony in 1625 and became one of the first settlers of Nantasket. Lyford was a controversial figure, a religious leader with a long track record of immoral behavior. He moved on from Nantasket to Cape Ann, and eventually to Virginia.

Derby Academy donated 3 of the acres here. This land is within the region of the Massachusett (or Massachuseuk). To learn more about local Native American tribes, we encourage you to interact with their members. The Massachusett tribe at Ponkapoag and the Mattakeeset band of the Massachusett share information on their websites.

Trail Description

No trails, but you can walk along the roadside and enjoy the view of the Weir River, its marshes, and the Hull Wind Turbine!

Habitats and Wildlife

Formed at the confluence of Crooked Meadow River and Fulling Mill Brook, the Weir River flows north through Hingham, with Tower Brook and Accord Brook joining it in its first mile. It gradually turns northeast and flows for another 1.4 miles, through Weir River Farm and eventually into Foundry Pond. The Weir River Estuary, designated by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as an Area of Critical Concern, begins just below the manmade dam at the pond. The mile-wide estuary — with numerous acres of undisturbed salt marsh — forms the border between Hingham and Hull, and empties into Hingham Bay. For more information about the Weir River, follow the Weir River Watershed Association.