Fish &Chips: The Koenig's Do Europe: Orford Castle

Orford Castle was built by Henry II in the 12th Century. Henry II had a long and tumultuous reign as king (lasting from 1154-1189). He was said to be a good ruler, but he seemed to be under constant difficulties from rebellious barons, his own family, and friends. Orford Castle was built in response to some of those adversities, namely to proclaim his authority over the Earls of Norfolk (those residing in Framlingham Castle). He built the tower so that on a clear day, the Barons of Norfolk could look out over their land from Framlingham and see his tower in the distance on the coast.

This is the tower of Orford. When Henry II built his Castle, it would have originally have been surrounded by a Castle wall with towers to protect the main tower, or keep. The Tower, or keep, is nearly 30 meters high! By the 1840's all traces of the wall were gone and only the tower stood as a reminder of King Henry II's power. They think the wall was torn down and the stone re-used for other buildings.

Mom and I

Me, walking up to the entrance

The main hall right after you walk through the entrance.

The basement of the castle. The well is in the middle.

Mom walking up the spiral staircase

The chapel

Up close of the right side of the altar. The cutouts in the wall are where they kept the vestements and the cutout on the bottom is actually a sink where the priest would rinse out the vestements.

The windows in the chapel. These were the only windows in the original castle that were glazed. It was extremely rare and expensive to have actual windows, that right was reserved for the wealthy, and when they built the chapel, the windows were almost like an offering to God, having the best for Him.

Christopher sitting on a pew. The whole above him is so that when the chapel was filled, the servants could still stand out in the hallway and hear the sermon.

The Chaplain's room. The chimney from the kitchen is behind that main wall, and that heated the room.

The priests Latrine.

LOL...Me...you can guess where...

Christopher being funny

And it was Mom's turn.

The great hall. This was used when important people would come to visit.

The bakery on the roof. They put it on the roof so if by chance there was a fire, it wouldnt take out the entire castle.

The oven up close.

Mom on the roof

The view from the roof... the coast! The body of water is part of the Orford Ness and The North Sea.

Another view from the roof. The large building in the middle of the picture is St. Bartholomew's Church and tower.

The land surrounding the Castle. Part of the dips in the land were where the castle wall would have been and the ones past that were used to help slow down enemies.