Orford Castle

Orford Castle has a fascinating self contained keep which was built to contain a Great Hall, kitchens, Royal apartments Stewards quarters and even a dungeon. It was built by Henry II as a buffer to the power base of the Bigod family who were putting pressure on his authority in Suffolk and Norfolk. The castle was captured by Prince Louis of France in the 1215 Magna Carta War, it eventually became a Baronial castle before being left to ruin. The castles brought trade to the area and the town of Orford enjoyed the bounty from maritime trade into Orford Ness. According to legend a bearded merman was dragged from sea by fishermen in Orford Ness and brought back to the castle and tortured. Despite torture he would not speak as he was seemingly feral only eating the juices of fish. Eventually he was trusted to go to the beach and he never came back, returning to the foam whence he came.