18 March 2010
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Orford Castle (English Heritage)

Orford
Woodbridge
Suffolk
IP12 2ND
England

Website

www.english-heritage.org.uk/filestore/visitsevents/asp/visits/visit_frameset.asp?Property_Id=38

Telephone

01394 450472

All information is supplied by the venues or providers themselves and every effort is made to ensure it is correct. Please remember to double check opening hours with the venue concerned before making a special visit.
An exterior view of Orford Castle

The unique polygonal towerkeep of Orford Castle stands beside the pretty town and former port which Henry II also developed here in the 1160s. His aim was to counterbalance the power of turbulent East Anglian barons like Hugh Bigod of Framlingham, and to guard the coast against foreign mercenaries called to their aid.

An 18-sided drum with three square turrets, and a forebuilding reinforcing its entrance, the keep was built to a highly innovative design. Both exterior and interior survive almost intact, allowing visitors to explore the basement with its vital well, and the lower and upper halls - the latter the principal room of the castle. Round these polygonal rooms is a maze of passages, leading to the chapel, kitchen and other chambers in the turrets. From the roof there are magnificent views seaward to Orford Ness.

Venue Type:

Castle or defences

 Admission charges

Discounts

  • English Heritage

Orford
Woodbridge
Suffolk
IP12 2ND
England

Website

www.english-heritage.org.uk/filestore/visitsevents/asp/visits/visit_frameset.asp?Property_Id=38

Telephone

01394 450472

All information is supplied by the venues or providers themselves and every effort is made to ensure it is correct. Please remember to double check opening hours with the venue concerned before making a special visit.
Resources listed here may include websites, bookable tours and workshops, books, loan boxes and more. You may need to scroll down or click on headers to see them all.
 Face to face resources

Castle Life Discovery Visit

Imagine yourself into the past by listening to and joining in wonderful stories of the lives of ordinary folk as well as the rich and powerful. A magic mixture of tale-telling and handling replica artefacts with dressing-up for some the ideal way to explore everyday life in a castle. This session can be adapted and fit the needs of different groups from reception to year 6.
Duration: 1 1/2 hours
Key Stage: 1, 2, History

How to obtain

Call 01223 582732 to arrange a 1 hour session on weekdays during term time. Price £60 per group of up to 30 pupils until April 2009, £75 per group after April 2009. Visit http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/nav.19496 for more information.

My Castle My Home Discovery Visit

Who lived in this fascinating castle? How was it defended? Who had the most disgusting job? Games and hands-on activities will provide opportunities for active exploration. A Discovery Bag can be borrowed which contains objects linked to other parts of the site to help you extend your visit.
Duration: 1 1/2 hours
Key Stage: 1, 2, History

How to obtain

Call 01223 582732 to arrange a 1 hour session on weekdays during term time. Price £60 per group of up to 30 pupils until April 2009, £75 per group after April 2009. Visit http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/nav.19496 for more information.

 paper-based and downloads

Orford Castle Teacher's Kit

http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/upload/pdf/Orford_Castle__TK.pdf

A downloadable photocopiable teaching resource sheet for use in the classroom. The teacher's kit is essential for pre-, during and post-site visit work and includes: site history, site plans & tour, documentary sources, activities, photos & reconstruction artwork, details of how to visit and supporting resources information.

Creator

  • English Heritage Education

How to obtain

Please click on the link to download.

Orford
Woodbridge
Suffolk
IP12 2ND
England

Website

www.english-heritage.org.uk/filestore/visitsevents/asp/visits/visit_frameset.asp?Property_Id=38

Telephone

01394 450472

All information is supplied by the venues or providers themselves and every effort is made to ensure it is correct. Please remember to double check opening hours with the venue concerned before making a special visit.
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