Canterbury Shaker Village

Besides producing the much-admired Shaker furniture and craft items, the Canterbury Shaker community specialized in producing herbs and herbal medicines, which were sold throughout the country.

You can still visit the herb garden, as well as the original meetinghouse (1792), an apiary (bee house), the ministry, a Sisters' shop, a laundry, horse barn, infirmary, and the schoolhouse (1826).

On the guided tour you can see dovetailed and oval box making in the carpenter's shop, and look over reproductions of Shaker designs in furniture and crafts in the carriagehouse gift shop.

All year on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings you can also enjoy a traditional candlelight dinner here. There is one seating (family style at long tables) at 7 pm sharp.

The four-course meal (choose from a poultry, meat, or fish main dish) follows recipes, ingredients, and cooking methods true to Shaker form and philosophy.

After dinner has transported you to another era, you'll be guided through the village by candlelight, or if it's winter and the village is closed, you'll be treated to an evening of folk singing. You'll have an enjoyable evening either way.

The Creamery restaurant is open for lunch daily 11:30 am to 2 pm and for brunch Sunday from 11 am to 2 pm.

Canterbury Shaker Village is open for guided tours from May through October, Monday through Saturday 10 am to 5 pm and Sunday 12 noon to 5 pm (the last tour departs at 4 pm). In April, November and December, the village is open on weekends.

You can also visit Shaker villages at Hancock MA and Sabbathday Lake ME.

Canterbury Shaker Village
288 Shaker Road
Canterbury NH 03224 (map)