Orford Castle

So here we see Ordford Castle on the Suffolk coast. Built by Henry II in the early 12th Century, around 1165 as a way to reassert royal authority and dominance across East Anglian. Up until this time the only royal fortress in the region would have been the castle at Norwich.

During his reign, Henry faced many uprisings with the barons of East Anglian rebelling especially Hugh Bigod, Earl of Norfolk. Even though he had confiscated Hugh Bigod's castles at Framlingham and Bungay, Orford was ideally situated to control the local barons but also to counter the threat presented by the Flemish mercenaries hired by Hugh Bigod to do his fighting for him.

Due to Henry II being someone who ekpt detailled records we know that Orford Castle cost £1413 to build, out of the yearly royal income of £10 000. 

We know that the castle was attacked and put under seige at several points throughtout it's history. We know from records that King Louis of France captured the castle in 1216 whilst in battle against King John. We also know the descendents of Hugh Bigod captured the castle twice however never held it for long.

As we as being a fortress it was a royal palace, with many state of the art features such as en-suite facilities in the form of a personal urinal along with latrines or toilets that flushed to the exterior of the castle. We believe that tapestries hung on the walls and mats of rushes would have been placed on the floor.

By looking at the overall design of the castle we assume that there were two great halls over two levels, and that they may have been used as a hall for public functions and the other for private functions. Within the turrets leading off the halls you will find the private apartments, kitchen and chapel. At the very bottom of the castle,down the grand staircase into the mound it sits upon we find the basement. The basement is complete with a 45ft deep well in the very centre of the room, which could be used to draw up salty water. The basement was also used to store vast quantities of food. This was vital if the castle was beseiged at any point.

When I arrived at the site, I was in awe and wonder at such a magnificent castle, the keep is well preserved and dominates the landscape around it. At first I experience a very strange feeling, as though I was being watched. The day was very windy and there was a slight chill. However I felt very safe and protected whilst inside the castle building itself. Even though the castle sits just outside the village of Orford, you could easily think that you were isolated from civilisation within the castle. One side of castle borders that of the former habour and Ness of Orford and the other borders village. Regardless of the feelings I experienced Orford Castle is extremely impressive, and well worth a visit. I wished that I lived within the castle myself.

St Andrews Church, Thursford, Norfolk

Unfortunately when I visited this site, the church was in the middle of a maintainance program which meant that is was covered with scaffolding, however I was able to stroll around the exterior. I have come to the conclusion that I need to revisit the site to take a look inside.

As I walked through the graveyard it was a very pleasant and quiet place to be, you approach the church from a little dirty track which leads to Thursford Hall, however level with the church you find a sign, advising you to go no further as it is private property. 

It is easy to tell that the church has been rebuilt over its lifetime as the current church has a very Victorian feel to it, with records suggesting that it was rebuilt in the 1860's. This would have been completed to the taste and requirements of the Chadd family who lived at Thursford hall, just south of the Church.

St Andrews church houses the Chadd family chapel in the south transept with the family pew sitting above their mausoleum. This section of the church is situated over 2 levels.

Background reading credited to Simon Knott of www.norfolkchurches.co.uk

All Saints Weybourne (Weybourne Priory)

On my travels around Norfolk I came across this site while using the North Norfolk coastal road. The signs on the gates that lead to this church give it the name of God's acre. As I walked through the graveyard I loved the peace and tranquility it provided even though its close proximity to the coastal road.

The church notice board gives the name of this Church as All Saints, Weybourne however this site has been more than just a parish church. A church has been on this site since Saxon times, where evidence of a Saxon cruciform church can be found in the north of the chancel, in the form of a tower. Other features can be found in arcade between the current nave and the north aisle as it occupies the site of the Saxon church.

The priory was formed between the end of the 12th century and the beginning of the 13th century by Sir Ralph Mainwaring as a house of Augustinian canons. The priory was a subordinate to the priory of West Acre. It was dissolved in 1314.

The remains of the priory include large sections of wall such as that of the north wall of the choir, walls of the presbytery. A section of the north transept can be seen, some of the north range is still visable along with walls of the cloisters.

St Margaret's Church, Thorpe Market

So here is St Margaret's church at Thorpe Market which is just over 4 miles south of Cromer on the North Norfolk coast. I had seen this church several times over a period of months and finally got round to visiting. As I approached the building through the church yard I could see that while this church was old it was not from the medieval period which after some reading I found to be accurate.

St Margaret's church dates from the 1700's being built in 1796 on the instruction from the 1st Lord Suffield. It was built under the Gothic revival style and is one of the first buildings of this style of architecture to be built in Norfolk. St Margaret's church although built in 1796 is built on the same site as an older medieval church.

Although I was unable to take a look inside the church during my visit, I plan to visit again soon on a day when the church is open so I can visit inside instead.