[2] In 2006 a village council successfully opposed the development of a proposed stadium, Watermark, by combining its advocacy with those of four surrounding communities.

The Abbot of Bury St Edmunds originally owned the land, and by the early 20th century it was the country house of a Blackheath, London family, of businessperson Arthur Ballance and his wife's family, the Peeks.

In 1965 the property was bought for £35,000 to be an American-style-curriculum boarding school for children of U.S. & Canadian families who were working internationally.

[3] In 1981 the property was sold to Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh ashram.

Herringswell residents formed a council when they deemed the ashram to be gaining too much influence.