Google Sightseeing takes you on tour of the world as seen from satellite, using the free Google Earth program, or Google Maps in your web browser. Each weekday your guides James and Alex present new weird and wonderful sights as suggested by readers.

The editors: James & Alex

House in the Clouds

Posted by Alex Turnbull, Friday, 3rd August 2007

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This is the fantastic House in the Clouds in Thorpeness, England, which was built in 1923 and functioned as the town’s water tower1 for the next 40 years.

It originally held 189 kilolitres (~50,000 gallons) of water, and was designed so that from miles around it looks like a cottage has come to rest in the top of a tree.

Nearby there’s a windmill which used to be corn mill at the nearby village of Aldringham, but was moved here to pump water to the tower instead.

Today the House in the Clouds is a 5 bedroom guest house, but don’t even consider booking a room unless you’ve got some serious money to burn

This Keyhole post has some fantastic photos of this bizarre structure and the official site has the entire history


  1. Wikipedia: “a very large tank constructed for the purpose of holding a supply of water at a height sufficient to pressurize a water supply system.” 

7 Responses to 'House in the Clouds'

  1. 1. Nev says:

    You find this one all by yourself Alex? ;)

  2. Google Sightseeing Admin
    2. Alex says:

    Yes! Yes I did! Go me. And, um, Wikipedia. :D

  3. 3. Eric says:

    Wikipedia has it all. Found some of mt best sites on there. Love the fact you can go on there and find something interesting withing 5 clicks though, a bit like GSS. ;)

  4. 4. john says:

    This was briefly shown on the UK television series ‘Coast’ yesterday. Interesting building

  5. 5. SYSS Mouse says:

    the “visited” stamp is mising.

  6. 6. Katrina Stonoff says:

    I am just tickled with this post! I have to say–I’ve been lurking for a while now, and I love your blog, but this is my favorite entry!

    Sarah-Kate Lynch wrote a wonderful novel called By Bread Alone that was set in a house based on The House in the Clouds. I had never heard of it, but she brought it to life in all its considerable charm.

    Thanks!

  7. 7. Andy says:

    The charges for the House in the Clouds seem expensive, but it is the cost for the whole house, which will sleep 12 people.
    If you have a large group, it’s not so expensive.

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