Discovering Orford

From Post Cards 2012

Meet Jim and Meghan....one of the most amazing couples of all time. We had a blast showing them Suffolk's coast and popped into Orford. While we knew this castle was here, we never really took advantage of it---shame! Orford castle is one of the best preserved "keep" castles (tower within a castle) built between 1165 and 1173 by Henry II. In its time, the castle had a ditch/moat, palisade and bridge, and surrounding walls.

From Post Cards 2012

Elsie guided Jim and Meg through the castle's many chambers--some of them almost secret (if a visiting duchess came, she had to cross a raised beam to her chamber where the beam was then lowered until the next morning), sunlit chapel, kitchen with a huge chimney, bakery (at the top with tiles original to the area), and yes, sophisticated toilets called "garderobes" (or bathrooms).  The view of Orford Ness from the castle is beautiful. It was nice to eat our pastries from local Pump Street Bakery (way overdue for a post) and enjoy the sea breeze. Thanks Jim and Meg for the day trip to visit the Crowells!