Thorpeness is a 'garden village' by the sea, between the purple heathlands of the Sandlings and the golden sands of some the best beaches on the East coast.

Originally a small fishing hamlet in the late 19th century.

In 1910, Glencairne Stuart Ogilvie, a Scottish barrister, who had made his money investing on the Russia Railways, bought the entire area from north of Aldeburgh to past Sizewell, up the coast and inland to Aldringham and Leiston.

He developed Thorpeness into a private fantasy holiday village, to which he invited his friends' and colleagues' families, during the summer months.

A country club -the Kursaal, opened by Sir Wm. Bull MP on May 6th 1912- occupied the most prominent position with the finest sea views with tennis courts and a swimming pool, a golf course and clubhouse and many holiday homes were built in Jacobean and Tudor styles.

The village's greatest treasure is the artificial lake covering some 60 acres with tree-planted islands most of which sport allusions to Peter Pan (J M Barrie was a personal friend of Ogilvie) making it a wonderful playground for children who 'may yet strive to explore the world of make believe' without constant parental supervision.

Thorpeness had the distinction of being the first 'Township in Great Britain to be equipped thoughout with One Shilling Slot Meters and Cooking Apparatus' courtesy of the "Leading Light" Acetylene Gas Plant of Hull.

'By using a motor from Leiston [station], any railway traveller to Thorpeness can actually reach his front door earlier than an Aldeburgh visitor can arrive at his home by the same train.' (Guide to Thorpeness, 1912)

Originally water for Thorpeness was pumped into a tall water tower by an adjacent windmill. The water tower was made aesthetically pleasing by making it look like a house!Its function has now been replaced by mains water and is available to rent for self catering holidays as The House in The Clouds.

Thorpeness Stores today caters for the discerning tastes of the village's well-heeled visitors. Run by Sue Allen it is a must place to shop.