Pictures of Orford Castle

a Castle in the town of Orford, in the county of Suffolk

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About Orford Castle

Orford Castle stands guard over the coast from a high vantage position above the River Alde. It was built by Henry II in the 12th-century to assert Royal supremacy over the county and guard Orford Harbour.

Today, all that if left of this once mighty fortress is the unique 90 foot high, 21 sided magnificent tower which has a circular room on each floor and incorporates three buttress-turrets. There are interesting circular stone stairways leading up through the building, the rest of which has long since collapsed.

The castle is steeped in lurid tales of mystery and legend. One interesting legend surrounding the castle tells of a merman caught by local fishermen shortly after the castle was built. He was held captive, beaten and tortured, however, he later managed to escaped from his captors, slipped into the sea and was never seen again.

When King John died, the French contender to the Crown, Prince Louis took the castle. During the reign of Henry III the castle changed hands frequently, but was mostly maintained by the Crown. In the 14th-century when its importance had declined the castle was given to Robert of Ufford for perpetuity. From that time onwards the castle led a peaceful existence and took no further part in any military action.

The ruins of Orford Castle continue to dominate this charming little town, its site is singularly magnificent and gives visitors good views of the town, surrounding countryside, and coast. It is another of Suffolk's many treasures which is well worth seeing.

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Recommended attractions near Orford Castle

	Orford Ness Nature Reserve (0.6 miles, 0.9 km) Visitors to this lovely town wishing to see the Nature Reserve have to catch a ferry from Orford Quay. The reserve is the..... Information | Pictures (9) | Hotels
	The Moot Hall Museum (5.9 miles, 9.5 km, direction NE) .. Information | Pictures (1) | Hotels
	Sutton Hoo (8.2 miles, 13.3 km, direction W) Sutton Hoo can be found amongst the marshy creeks and reedy rivers of Suffolk. It is perhaps most famous as the setting of one..... Information | Pictures (21) | Hotels
	Leiston Abbey (9.3 miles, 14.9 km, direction N) These are the evocative remains of an abbey founded when the order of the land was God first, followed by King and country. The..... Information | Pictures (10) | Hotels
	Easton Farm Park Country Park (10.0 miles, 16.1 km, direction NW) .. Information | Hotels

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Recommended towns & villages near Orford Castle

	Snape (5.2 miles, 8.3 km, direction N) Snape is not simply unique for its beautiful location at the head of the River Alde, it is also unique as a village with an international reputation for music... Information | Pictures (7) | Hotels
	Aldeburgh (5.3 miles, 8.6 km, direction NE) Aldeburgh is a seaside retreat with boundless charm. The history of the resort quite possibly reaches back to Saxon times, certainly during the Middle Ages it was a prosperous port and later it became known as a fishing centre... Information | Pictures (84) | Hotels
	Thorpeness (7.3 miles, 11.7 km, direction NE) Thorpeness's quaint village sign gives the visitor some hint of the surprises to come, it depicts the House in the Clouds and Windmill, for which the village is most noted... Information | Pictures (18) | Hotels
	Harwich (15.6 miles, 25.1 km, direction SW) The great seafarers of centuries have left the shores of England, these include Raleigh, Drake, Frobisher and Admiral Lord Nelson, all of whom brought glory for England... Information | Pictures (56) | Hotels
	Ipswich (16.2 miles, 26.0 km, direction W) This is a town that can trace its history back to the Stone-Age, it has been a successive settlement throughout the ages and has been populated by settlers from the Iron-Age,..... Information | Pictures (57) | Hotels

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Nearby travel help

Wickham Market Station	(6.8 miles, 11.0 km, direction NW)
Melton Station	(8.1 miles, 13.0 km, direction W)
Norwich Airport	(41.4 miles, 66.6 km, direction N)
London Stansted Airport	(56.6 miles, 91.1 km, direction W)
M11 Junction 9	(57.2 miles, 92.0 km, direction W)
M11 Junction 8	(58.6 miles, 94.2 km, direction W)
Orford Castle to London	(81.5 miles, 131.1 km, direction SW)

Accommodation & Hotels near Orford Castle

Hotel Name
The Brudenell	(5.0 miles, 8.1 km, direction NE)
The White Lion Hotel	(5.5 miles, 8.8 km, direction NE)
The Thorpeness Hotel	(7.0 miles, 11.3 km, direction NE)
Best Western Ufford Park Hotel	(7.8 miles, 12.6 km, direction W)
The Bull Hotel & Restaurant	(8.9 miles, 14.3 km, direction W)
The Hotel Elizabeth Orwell	(11.3 miles, 18.2 km, direction SW)
The Crown Hotel	(11.7 miles, 18.9 km, direction NW)
The Waverley Hotel	(11.8 miles, 19.0 km, direction SW)
The Brook Hotel	(11.9 miles, 19.1 km, direction SW)
The Westleton Crown	(12.1 miles, 19.5 km, direction N)
All of our hotels are available to book online & with special discounts