Orford Castle

About the museum

Orford Castle was begun in 1164 by Henry II on land that had belonged to Thomas Becket. The king wanted a strong royal base in East Anglia to limit the power of the Bigod earls, and the castle was almost finished in 1173, when his sons rebelled. Its tall, many-sided keep was an unusual design for its time, built from local stone with a chapel, a kitchen and several chambers, and it still dominates the village and the surrounding marshes.

The castle also had a role in later conflicts. Louis of France captured it during the barons’ rebellion of 1215, and in 1277 Prince Edward spent a night there. The Uffords held it from 1330 until 1419, and added new fireplace hoods and window glass in the upper hall. In the 1590s Michael Stanhope pulled down much of the outer walls to reuse the stone at another house, which left only the keep and the earthworks. A signal station was placed on the roof in the early 1800s, and semaphore was introduced in 1812.

The floors and roof were replaced in 1831, and in 1928 the castle was given to the Orford Town Trust. It has been in state care since 1962 and is now run by English Heritage. A major repair programme protected the crumbling stonework with a breathable lime render in a yellow ochre colour. Visitors climb the 91 steps to the roof and can see a display by the Orford Museum Trust in the upper hall.

Highlights

• Polygonal tower keep from the 1160s with a roof walk and views over Orford Ness
• Chapel, kitchen and chambers inside the keep
• Display by the Orford Museum Trust in the upper hall
• Model showing how the castle looked when it was built
• Fort-building trail for children

Permanent exhibitions

• The Keep – The twelfth-century keep from the basement to the roof, with chambers, a chapel, a kitchen, hands-on features and a model of the castle as first built.
• Orford Museum Trust exhibition – A display in the upper hall by the local museum trust, with changing displays of finds from the area.

Founded

1165

Operated by

English Heritage

Visitors per year

approx. 38,818

Admission & discounts

Prices shown are the lowest winter prices for tickets booked online in advance (until midnight the day before) without a donation. On the day, adult tickets cost about £10.00 in winter and £10.90 in October; a ticket with a voluntary 10% donation costs slightly more. Prices change with the season. Tickets are free for English Heritage members.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: not available
• Elevator: not available
• Accessible restroom: not available
• Accessible parking: not available
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The keep is not suitable for visitors with limited mobility: it has 91 steep steps and no lift. There are no toilets on site, no separately allocated disabled parking spaces (the car park is the nearest vehicle access), no wheelchair loan and no hearing loop. Audio tours are available and torches are provided. The grounds are undulating, with uneven ground and steep slopes into the dry moat, and the grass can be slippery when wet. Assistance dogs are welcome; there are two picnic tables but no other seating.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations
• Baby changing facilities: not available

Hands-on displays and a fort-building trail (World Builder Challenge) suit children. Pushchairs are allowed, but the keep has 91 steps and there is no baby changing because there are no toilets on site.

Getting there & parking

Orford is on the B1084, about 20 miles north-east of Ipswich. Satnav: IP12 2ND.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

A gift shop is at the entrance to the keep (15 steps). Picnics are welcome in the grounds. There are no toilets on site.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit