Luxury Homes

Socialite Brooke Astor’s early 1900s Berkshires estate hits the market

Known as Cobble House, one of the main attractions is the view from the patio.

Cobble House from above. Nick LaRoche

October 29, 2025

3 minutes to read

The dreamlike Berkshires estate of socialite Brooke Astor has hit the market for $4.6 million after a major renovation.

Set on just under 28 rolling acres of natural beauty, Cobble House is a seven-bedroom, eight-bathroom (five full, three-half) estate that was constructed around 1909. Designed by legendary architect Harrie T. Lindeberg, known for his American Country House style, the 5,885-square-foot home at 8 Webster Road in Tyringham belonged to Astor starting in the early 1940s, when she lived there with her second husband, Charles “Buddie” Marshall. “During her second marriage … she traveled extensively and began writing for Town and Country and editing for House and Garden magazine,” Encyclopedia Britannica writes.

Brooke Astor in an apartment in New York, June 13, 1980. *– William E. Sauro/The New York Times*

Eleven months after Marshall died in 1952, Astor married heir and businessman Vincent Astor in “a pairing arranged by Vincent’s wife, who had promised to find him a replacement before she divorced him,” according to a 2006 story in New York Magazine. Brooke Astor became president of the Vincent Astor Foundation after his death. She was born in Portsmouth New Hampshire, but her legacy is tied to New York City, where she became a prominent philanthropist.

Brooke Astor’s home in the Berkshires. – Nick LaRoche

The current owners of the Berkshires house purchased it in 1986 and lived there as full-time residents for a long time. However, it eventually fell into disrepair. A few years before the pandemic, their son started to get to work on restoring the estate. Over the last five to six years, he brought in a team to impeccably restore it to the grandeur of Astor’s days.

Enjoy the view of the setting. – Nick LaRoche.

“It was kind of brought back to how it would look when she was there,” said John Burns of William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty, who has the listing.

A long driveway leads up a hill to the property, which boasts outstanding views of the Tyringham Cobble, a prehistoric rock formation formed by massive tectonic movements.

“It has completely unobstructed views of the Cobble, which is really very rare to find,” said Burns. “To me, its biggest strength is that beautiful view of the cobble.”

The driveway leads up to the entry. – Nick LaRoche.

There are several spots throughout the property to soak up the scenery, which were used for the last couple of years as a venue for parties and weddings. One of those viewing spots is known as the Overlook, “where you can look over the home, look over the Cobble, and you just have these incredible unobstructed views of the most gorgeous sunsets,” said Burns.

There is a massive portico outside the home, as well as a 2,000-square-foot vanishing-edge patio.

There are several spots on the property with outstanding views. – Nick LaRoche

Overhead, the home features a unique European-inspired rolled-edge roof.

Enter the home through the main entry in the courtyard, and you’ll find original restored oak flooring running throughout. In the great room, a wall of windows grabs your attention as it looks out onto the Cobble and the Tyringham Valley below you, as natural light floods in. Brooke Astor’s library, filled with original woodwork and millwork, is currently set up as a barroom. However, the bar can be removed to fill the space back up with books.

Brooke Astor’s library, which is currently set up as a bar. – Nick LaRoche

“Where there are now champagne flutes and beer glasses, you could just take them down and put the books right back where they should be,” said Burns.

The entire electrical system has been updated, as have the plumbing, HVAC, and lighting systems. All the bathrooms are brand new.

At 6 Webster Road, there is a caretaker’s house, which measures just under 1,000 square feet and is located on the property. The Mass Pike is less than 10 minutes away by car.