T  a  t  t  i  n  g  s  t  o  n  e
W  o  n  d  e  r



Again like the House in the Clouds, Suffolk's other favourite, this is not really a folly I suppose, it probably being more of a curiosity.
It also rather reminds me of a 'house' in Leinster Terrace London, this if you don't know the location, is a sham facade of a house. The reason for the deception, in this latter example, is that a railway line runs under that area of the road and because steam trains were initially used in the tunnels, [unbelievable as it may seem] ventilation was needed.
So the tunnel was left open to the elements at this particular point.
The 'house' which is part of a terrace of houses, has just a front facade, with windows and a door painted onto the front. So its two adjoining properties are in fact only joined by this sham front wall.

The Tattingstone Wonder

This is another sham facade, but this time it is not only much earlier, it is that of a church tower.
A Mr Edward White, was living at the nearby Tattingstone Place, and much like a lot of trendy landowners for the time, decided he wanted an 'eye catcher' to see from his house. The view he had at the time was of two cottages over to the South West, so in the 1790's he set about making these into three cottages, by the simple addition of an extra one on the end.

The Tower

The finale though came about by building a "tower" on top of this third cottage so that it resembled a church. Resembling is probably not the correct word if you view it from the rear however, as you then realise there are only three walls to this particular "tower". The two side walls have in fact a couple of large braces spanning between them. To be fair too Mr White and give credit where its due, they are complete with every detail you would expect to find on a church though.

Complete With Gothic Windows

To add even more to the illusion the front of the three cottages, have just two large church like Gothic windows in their common shared wall, whilst the normally expected three entrance doors and general windows will be found lurking around the rear, well away from Mr White's view. Two large church windows in the side wall of the end cottage furthest from the tower, finish the illusion off.

Visiting:-
It is located 6 miles south west of Ipswich.

Co-Ords: 613500 236500  

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