New Ipswich was one of New Hampshire’s first towns, chartered in 1750 and incorporated in 1762. The physical characteristics of the land made it an ideal location for industry. The towns 33 square miles are made up of hills, mountains, and many rivers and streams, which feed into the larger Souhegan River. Ample water supply provided power for the many mills, saw, grist and textile, which were active in the past. The Warwick Mill at Highbridge is still in operation and is very close to the original site of the first textile manufacturing facility in the state.

In addition to its mills, New Ipswich became well know for its cabinet making and as the home to skilled artisans and craftsmen. With its rich scenery and relative proximity to Boston, New Ipswich also became a popular summer resort. In the late18th and early 19th century the town grew and prospered as a community with a commitment to intellectual pursuits. It opened one of the first libraries in the state in 1793, and was second only to Exeter in establishing a high school, Appleton Academy.

The depression years were particularly hard on this community, the mills closed; and the town lost most of its industrial base. These economic hardships would be felt for some 50 years. The 1980's brought on a housing boom, due to new jobs in the area, from electronic and technological industries moving to southern NH. The 1990's saw a halt to the building, and felt the strains of it prosperity, loss of large areas of open space, increased demands on schools, roads and local services.

New Ipswich is now a bedroom community adorned by hills and ponds. The town center along Main Street is on the National Register of Historic Places. Several fine old houses line the street, one of which is the Barrett House. The Barrett House or Forest Hall is a fine example of the wealth of the day that came to settle or summer here in New Ipswich in the 18th and 19th century. Built in 1800 by Charles Barrett as a residence for his son Charles Jr, Forest Hall pays tribute to the Barrett family and to the 19th century textile industry. The Barrett textile mills, located in Bank village, produced cotton fabric for domestic and export usage. This house demonstrates fine federal architecture and testifies to the skill of local craftsmen.