 The castle was built between 1166 and 1172 by Henry
II as part of his coastal defence. Orford was at that time a busy port. It was the first castle in England to
have a series of mural towers projecting from the curtain walls. This was an
innovation of great military importance in the later part of the 12th century as it
allowed the garrison command of the field of fire without exposure to the enemy. The
keep was also unusual being polygonal with the addition of three rectangular towers and a
forebuilding. It was a forerunner of the cylindrical keeps of the 13th century.
The stonework remains virtually intact as the castle had a comparatively uneventful
military history.
Following the death of King John it was
taken by the French contender to the crown, Prince Louis. In the reign of Henry III
the castle changed hands frequently during the baronial wars.
The castle was then
maintained by the Crown but by 1336 its importance had declined
to such an extent that it was given in perpetuity to Robert
of Ufford. From that time the castle was never involved
in further military action.
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Orford
Castle
