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Orford Castle, Suffolk

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Henry II of England is a fascinating illustration of the contradictions that go into making national identity. He is a king traditionally associated with the foundation of strong government in England. He is supposed to have put England back on course after King Stephen allowed England to slip into civil war in the 1140s. In fact Henry had to fight a civil war of his own, with his son Henry the Younger and his supporters.

Henry II built Orford Castle in Suffolk between 1165 and 1173. His plans in doing so were fittingly perverse. The castle was built on the coast, and was clearly meant as a strong point for shoreline defences. But the potential invaders were actually a representation of opposition from within the country. Aggressive East Anglican barons such as Hugh Bigod of Framlington were a threat to Henry's authority, and Orford Castle was built to oppose the landing of foreign mercenaries that barons such as Bigod might invite to help in their power struggles.

The castle was ready just in time for the onset of war. In 1173 Hugh Bigod assisted the landing of mercenaries led by Earl Robert of Leicester on the Suffolk coast. The rebels took Haughley and Norwich, but did not dare attack Orford.

Orford Castle has survived almost completely intact. It has a unique polygonal shape, with polygonal rooms linked by a maze of passages. If you wanted to get metaphorical then the castle's complex shape, and the tortuous nature of its passage ways would offer much scope. The castle sits so strong on the coast seeming to define the country it protects, and yet all the while behind the facade there are all sorts of twists and turns.The castle has eighteen sides, and it's as if Orford Castle doesn't know which way to turn.

Opening Times: March 21st to September 30th 10am - 6pm daily.

October 1st to March 20th 10am -4pm Thursday to Monday.

Closed 24th - 26th December and 1st January.

Last admission thirty minutes before closing.

Address: Orford Castle, Orford, Suffolk IP12 2ND

Directions: Take the B1084 to Orford in Suffolk. Click here for an interactive map centred on Orford Castle.

Access: There is no wheelchair access to the castle. For someone with mobility problems the castle can only be viewed from the outside.

Contact:

telephone: 01394 450472

web site: http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/ConProperty.38/chosenImageId/3