An 1880 Georgian Colonial in New Canaan, Connecticut

A historic residence known as Pemberly Hill in New Canaan, Connecticut, is under contract after being listed for $8.6 million, according to listing data. As of the most recent update, no sale price is available. The property was the market with Michele Murray Sloan of Houlihan Lawrence Real Estate.

The home was built in 1880 and sits on a 4.04-acre lot. The residence has 13,349 square feet of interior living space and is listed as a Georgian Colonial–style home. It includes 8 bedrooms and 10 bathrooms, consisting of 8 full bathrooms and 2 half baths. Additional features listed include a four-car attached garage, an in-ground swimming pool, and a Har-Tru tennis court.

According to local historical reporting, the house was built by John Patterson, a Scottish immigrant and master craftsman who settled in New Canaan in the late 19th century. Patterson constructed the home at the crest of Brushy Ridge, an area that at the time was characterized by large estates and working farms. Patterson operated John Patterson & Co., a business specializing in the design and tailoring of private livery uniforms, with operations in New York City and Newport, Rhode Island.

The property later became associated with Ursula Parrott (1899–1957), a novelist, screenwriter, and short-story writer. Parrott is best known for her 1929 novel Ex-Wife, which became a commercial success but also drew widespread attention for its subject matter. Contemporary and later accounts note that the novel created a scandal because of its frank depiction of young working women in a New York City described as being “drenched in cocktails and Scotch” during the Jazz Age.

Ex-Wife was originally published anonymously. After the book’s publication, the media began hunting for the author’s identity, questioning whether the protagonist was fictional, somewhat autobiographical, or a cultural critique. The author’s identity was later revealed. The book was adapted into the 1930 film The Divorcee, starring Norma Shearer, who won an Academy Award for her performance.

Although Ex-Wife later fell out of print, it was reissued in 1989 and again in 2023, contributing to a renewed critical and public interest in Parrott’s work.

All photos belong to the listing agency.