Essex & Suffolk Group visit to Thorpeness

Event details

Essex and Suffolk Group tour of the House in the Clouds, Water Tower and West Bar at Thorpeness
Wednesday 4 June, 10.30am - 3.30pm

Join the SPAB Essex and Suffolk Group for a rare look inside the Grade-II listed ‘House in the Clouds’ at Thorpeness, an iconic former water tower now adapted for use as a holiday let, featuring spectacular views from the top. 

The current owners bought the property in the 1970s, using it initially for family holidays. Visits by the public are rarely accommodated. 

Originally a 50,000 gallon cast iron water tank supported by a steelwork tower built in 1923, the tower was adapted to be a house for the children’s author, Mrs Malcolm Mason. After the water tank was made redundant, more living accommodation was created in 1979.   

Adjacent to the Water Tower is a wind pump – a repurposed Windmill moved from nearby Aldringham. It no longer pumps water but normally free runs as windmill, unless undergoing maintenance (as at present).  

We shall split into two groups each visiting in turn the windmill – guided by local Millwright Tim Whiting and visiting the House in the Clouds, meeting the owner’s family.   

There will be a lunch break (pubs and cafes available as well as picnic spots) and time to explore the mock-medieval village created as a fantasy holiday-village destination from 1910 by Glencairn Stuart Ogilvie.  

We shall then visit grade II listed “2 West Bar” – the original water tower created at the centre of the village designed to look like an early English castle. This also has a steelwork structure with locally produced concrete block and brick infill.  

West Bar will be at an advanced stage of a massive conservation and modernisation project to become a prestige holiday location for large groups, under the auspices of ARC. This will still be a construction site when we visit, so PPE must be worn and sturdy footwear.  Some parts may not be accessible due to ongoing work.

To manage numbers, we must split into two groups – the second group having more time for lunch or to explore Thorpeness.  

First visit to West Bar 1.30pm 
Second visit 2.30pm  

You are welcome to take pictures and videos, but you must not post them video on social media.   

You will need

Sturdy footwear. 

For the West Bar visit please bring your own hard hats and reflective jackets if you have them. PPE will be provided at West Bar for those that do not have their own PPE. 

How to get there

House in the Clouds, Upland Road, (an unmade track) 
Thorpeness, Suffolk, IP16 4NQ 

2 West Bar, The Sanctuary, Thorpeness, IP16 4NF   

There is no parking at the House in the Clouds or West Bar. Free parking adjacent to the Meare or at the paid-for car park on the right as you enter the village from the Aldeburgh direction. That car park is about 10 minutes' walk from the House in the Clouds. 

Accessibility

• There are 85 steps in the staircase at the House in the Clouds, but plenty of excuse to pause and inspect each floor on the way up.  

• Limited seating available. 

• West Bar is a similar ascent, again stopping on each floor as we ascend. This is an active construction site so will be a guided tour: please stay with your group. 

• West Bar is still a building site so there may be some degree of clutter and workmen active.  

• Possibly uneven surfaces / slippery paths 

• Significant periods of standing  

Anything we can do to make this event more accessible for you? Please email membership@spab.org.uk.

We may take photos or videos at this event to be used in future promotion, including in print and online.

All bookings are subject to our Terms and Conditions.

Photo credit: © Nigel Wall