Village building
An oysterage?
The castle!
Orford Castle is a castle in Suffolk, England, located 20 kilometres northeast of Ipswich. It was built between 1165 and 1173 by Henry II of England to consolidate royal power in the region. The well-preserved keep still stands among the earth-covered remains of the outer fortifications. Prior to the building of the Castle, the area was dominated by the Bigod family who held the hereditary title of Earl of Norfolk and owned Framlingham Castle. Hugh Bigod, 1st Earl of Norfolk was one of a group of dissenting barons during the reign of King Stephen and King Henry wanted to keep a close eye on him. Construction work at Orford Castle began in 1165 according to plans still held at the Public Records Office in London. The marshes nearby were drained turning the village of Orford into a sheltered port. The castle cost £1413 to build, contrasting with royal revenue of £10,000 a year. The design of the castle was unique. The 90 foot high central tower was circular in cross-section with three rectangular towers built into the structure. This was surrounded by a curtain wall with flanking towers and a fortified gatehouse. These outerworks were quarried for building material in the post-mediaeval period. Only the tower remains but it is one of the best-preserved examples of Plantagenet castle architecture. The castle also featured a suite for use by the king on completion in 1173.
What it probably looked like
Moi!
