c.1165–73
Orford Castle
A market was in existence at the small port of Orford by 1137/8, and between 1165 and 1173 a revolutionary new castle was built there for King Henry II at a cost of £1413 9s 2d. Survey work 2002-3 showed that this was the earliest ‘curtain wall and towers’ castle in England, but only the stone keep at the centre of the castle survives.
The castle is now an English Heritage property :
http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/properties/orford-castle/
Further reading
Heslop, T.A., 'Orford Castle, nostalgia and sophisticated living', Architectural History no. 34, 1991 36-58 (reprinted in R. Liddiard (ed.) 2003, Anglo-Norman Castles, Woodbridge).
Potter, V., Poulter, M. and Allen, J., The Building of Orford Castle. A translation from the Pipe Rolls 1163-78, Orford Museum 2002.
Brown, L., 2004. Orford Castle, Orford, Suffolk. Survey Report. English Heritage Archaeological Investigation Series A1/22/2004.
