A historic 12th century Suffolk castle- built for King Henry II- can now be enjoyed by visitors for years to come following the completion of restoration work to the walls.
Orford Castle has been undergoing repairs to the walls by Historic England at a cost of £1m to prevent them from falling due to the effects of erosion over time because of gusting winds, sea spray and rain.
Intervention became necessary because of the danger posed by falling masonry and the deterioration of the castle’s exterior.
The castle was built for King Henry II as a Royal outpost between 1165 and 1174 on the River Ore tidal estuary.
The aim was to stamp Henry’s authority on warring factions in East Anglia, particularly Hugh Bigod, Earl of Suffolk and cement his position as Monarch following a period of turbulence and civil war.
The structure, which features a central tower and three rectangular towers, is made from three materials- Barnack stone from Lincolnshire, Caen stone from Normandy and a local mud stone known as Septaria.
A reliable source of Septaria was no longer available, so following 13 years of conservation research, trials and consultation, the conservation team decided the best approach was to cover the castle exterior with a self-coloured render, to protect it and to prevent further loss of Septaria.
Stabilisation of the stonework required the filling of some deep voids.
Some localised supplies of Septaria were used for some of the bigger repairs, alongside the re-use of some stone which had been salvaged from falls and reinstated in the castle.
Following repairs, the protective render was applied in a single coat, with an extensive curing process to ensure a long, slow set.
The restoration project took a year to complete and the Grade I listed building was unveiled this week following its makeover.
Shelley Garland, senior properties curator at English Heritage East, said: “Orford Castle is an incredibly important Suffolk landmark – not only due to its historical significance, but because of how much it means to the residents of Orford.
“We have been so grateful for their support throughout the project, particularly as the measures we have needed to take - following years of trials to find the best method and materials - have led to a change of appearance of the castle.
“However, the interventions have preserved Orford Castle now and for future generations.”
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