Home Buying

A Beverly home tied to the Salem witch trials is on the market for $600,000

The four-bed, two-bath property was first built in 1675 and belonged to a family member of a Salem witch trials victim.

252 Essex Street in Beverly, which is currently on the market. KC Films and Photography

March 6, 2025

3 minutes to read

Anyone who has ever taken a field trip to Salem will recognize the name tied to 252 Essex Street in Beverly, which is currently on the market for $600,000.

Giles Corey, a farmer accused of witchcraft during the Salem witch trials, pleaded “not guilty.” He didn’t believe he’d achieve a fair trial and refused to speak. He was subsequently sentenced to death by pressing and became one of the most notable figures from the witch trials with the phrase he repeated as he died: “More weight.” According to legend, that’s what Corey repeatedly said to his executioners as they added more stones on top of him. (He was also written as a character in Arthur Miller’s The Crucible.)

An exterior view of 252 Essex Street in Beverly. – KC Films and Photography

The four-bed, two-bath property, which was first built in 1675 and underwent a variety of transformations over the years, belonged to William Cleaves, who was Corey’s son-in-law.

Set on .79 of an acre, the 2,315-square-foot home looks almost plucked out of Corey’s era thanks to everything from the wide-plank pine floors to the well in the basement (don’t worry, it’s on city water now).

A few steps up, on the right side of the home, under a small porch, brings you into an 184-square-foot kitchen, the first space built in the home. It features green tile floors, an operational 1930s stove, and a walk-in pantry. There’s also a door to an additional staircase to the second story. Next door is the second dining room, a 222-square-foot space featuring wood floors and a ceiling with beams that resemble logs. The remnants of a chimney stack sit in the corner. A 267-square-foot living room has wide plank floors and a fireplace that should be inspected before use. Two windows overlook the stunning gardens and street. A green door to the right of the fireplace leads to the downstairs bathroom, which features a shower. A door to the left of the fireplace moves into the foyer, home to the main entrance of the home.

A Beverly home dating to 1675 features an operational 1930s stove and walk-in pantry. – Amie Keefe/KC Films and Photography

Continue through to the second dining room, a charming 241-square-foot space with a built-in hutch, beamed ceiling, and easy access to the back patio through a door. The main kitchen, a 169-square-foot space, is next door and has a washer/dryer that’s included in the sale, track lighting overhead, and a door to the other front porch. A French door leads into a pantry, while a thinner French door leads to a mini pantry. Another door leads to the back patio.

Head back into the foyer to access the main staircase to the second story, where you’ll find each of the four bedrooms. The top of the staircase is also home to the second full bathroom, which has a tub. A bonus room measuring 239 square feet is a great addition to the second story, and a walk-up attic provides extra storage space.

The home features a fieldstone and dirt basement. There is also a separate 1-car garage that measures 344 square feet, as well as a storage space that measures 121 square feet.

The home’s outdoor spaces are some of its greatest features. The backyard, which is partially protected by conservation restrictions, is filled with trees, giant rocks, and a treehouse. The front yard is home to beautiful gardens, where wisteria hangs, and garden plots outlined by stone are frequently noticed by passersby.

“The gardens are something that almost everybody knows,” says Diantha Phosithan of Engel & Völkers By the Sea, who has the listing.

The home will need a new roof “pretty much right away.”