Orford, Suffolk

Orford
Orford
	; Orford Castle
	Orford Location within Suffolk
Population	713 (2011 Census)
OS grid reference	TM422499
Civil parish	Orford;
District	East Suffolk;
Shire county	Suffolk;
Region	East;
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	WOODBRIDGE
Postcode district	IP12
Dialling code	01394
Police	Suffolk
Fire	Suffolk
Ambulance	East of England
UK Parliament	Suffolk Coastal;
	List of places UK England Suffolk 52°05′42″N 1°32′02″E / 52.095°N 1.534°ECoordinates: 52°05′42″N 1°32′02″E / 52.095°N 1.534°E

Orford is a village with historic town status in Suffolk, England, within the Suffolk Coast and Heaths AONB. It is located 9 miles (14 km) east of Woodbridge.^[2]

History[]

Orford is the centre-left settlement depicted in this 1588 map

Like many Suffolk coastal towns it was of some importance as a port and fishing village in the Middle Ages. It has a mediaeval castle, built to dominate the River Ore and a Grade I listed parish church, St Bartholomew's. The castle was built as a royal castle built by Henry II in the period 1165-1173 as an assertion of monarchical power in the region. Although the castle became less important after the king's death in 1189, the importance of Orford as a port grew. By 1200 its level of trade exceeded that of nearby Ipswich.^[3] Henry III granted Orford its first charter and the town returned a member of parliament in 1298, although it did not function as a constituency throughout the 14th century.

Local amenities[]

The population of Orford greatly increases during the summer months, partly due to its flourishing sailing club. In common with other Suffolk coastal towns and villages, a substantial number of properties in Orford are holiday or second homes.^[4]

As well as the Castle, Orford's attractions include river cruises, three pubs, a renowned traditional bakery, a smokehouse and a restaurant; the Butley-Orford Oysterage.

Orford was rated as among the "20 most beautiful villages in the UK and Ireland" by Condé Nast Traveler in 2020 and its castle as "worthy of a storybook".^[5]

Governance[]

Historically Orford was an ancient borough institutionalised as . Considered a rotten borough, this status was revoked by the [[]]. Orford forms part of the electoral ward called Orford and Tunstall. The population of this ward at the 2011 census was 1,830.^[6]

Notable people[]

John Kirby was a school master in Orford.

Gallery[]

[Interactive fullscreen map]

Orford Ness, Suffolk, showing locations of main sites.^[7]

St Bartholomew's Church
View from the top of Orford Castle
Houses in the village
The Kings Head pub
Orford Quay
The view from the back of the boat leaving Orford Quay
Orford Quay from Orford Ness

References[]

^ "Town population 2011". Retrieved 16 September 2015.
^ AA Book of British Villages. Drive Publications Limited. 1980. p. 306. ISBN 9780340254875.
^ "A visitor Guide to Orford in Suffolk". Bed and Breakfast Nationwide. Bed and Breakfast Nationwide. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
^ [1] East Anglian Daily Times 12 March 2016 "Revealed: The Suffolk communities dominated by second homes"
^ "THE 20 MOST BEAUTIFUL VILLAGES IN THE UK AND IRELAND, 20 October 2020". Retrieved 14 March 2021.
^ "Orford and Tunstall Ward population 2011". Retrieved 16 September 2015.
^ "Orfordness Visitor Map" (PDF). National Trust. 2018. Retrieved 19 November 2018.

External links[]

Photographs and more details about Orford
A Fishy Tale of Orford
The Wild Man of Orford – An animated version of the 12th Century myth
"My Orford" by Charlie Underwood M.B.E. – An interesting insight into village life in Orford.

[1] "Town population 2011". Retrieved 16 September 2015.

[2] AA Book of British Villages. Drive Publications Limited. 1980. p. 306. ISBN 9780340254875.

[BnB_nat-3] "A visitor Guide to Orford in Suffolk". Bed and Breakfast Nationwide. Bed and Breakfast Nationwide. Retrieved 1 September 2021.

[4] [1] East Anglian Daily Times 12 March 2016 "Revealed: The Suffolk communities dominated by second homes"

[5] "THE 20 MOST BEAUTIFUL VILLAGES IN THE UK AND IRELAND, 20 October 2020". Retrieved 14 March 2021.

[6] "Orford and Tunstall Ward population 2011". Retrieved 16 September 2015.

[7] "Orfordness Visitor Map" (PDF). National Trust. 2018. Retrieved 19 November 2018.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

show v t East Suffolk
Towns	Aldeburgh Beccles Bungay Carlton Colville Felixstowe Halesworth Kesgrave Leiston Lowestoft Orford Saxmundham Southwold Woodbridge
Civil parishes	Alderton Aldringham cum Thorpe All Saints and St Nicholas, South Elmham Badingham Barnby Barsham Bawdsey Benacre Benhall Blaxhall Blundeston Blythburgh Blyford Boulge Boyton Bramfield Brampton with Stoven Brandeston Bredfield Brightwell Bromeswell Bruisyard Bucklesham Burgh Butley Campsey Ash Capel St Andrew Charsfield Chediston Chillesford Clopton Cookley Corton Covehithe Cransford Cratfield Cretingham Culpho Dallinghoo Darsham Debach Dennington Dunwich Earl Soham Easton Ellough Eyke Falkenham Farnham Flixton (Lothingland) Flixton (the Saints) Foxhall Framlingham Friston Frostenden Gedgrave Gisleham Great Bealings Great Glemham Grundisburgh Hacheston Hasketon Hemley Henstead with Hulver Street Heveningham Hollesley Holton Hoo Huntingfield Iken Ilketshall St Andrew Ilketshall St John Ilketshall St Lawrence Ilketshall St Margaret Kettleburgh Kelsale cum Carlton Kessingland Kirton Knodishall Letheringham Levington Linstead Magna Linstead Parva Little Bealings Little Glemham Lound Marlesford Martlesham Melton Mettingham Middleton Monewden Mutford Nacton Newbourne North Cove Otley Oulton Oulton Broad Parham Peasenhall Pettistree Playford Purdis Farm Ramsholt Redisham Rendham Rendlesham Reydon Ringsfield Rumburgh Rushmere Rushmere St Andrew Saxtead Shadingfield Shipmeadow Shottisham Sibton Snape Somerleyton, Ashby and Herringfleet Sotherton Sotterley South Cove Spexhall St Cross, South Elmham St James, South Elmham St Margaret, South Elmham St Mary, South Elmham otherwise Homersfield St Michael, South Elmham St Peter, South Elmham Sternfield Stratford St Andrew Stratton Hall Sudbourne Sutton Sutton Heath Sweffling Swilland Theberton Thorington Trimley St Martin Trimley St. Mary Tuddenham St Martin Tunstall Ubbeston Ufford Uggeshall Walberswick Waldringfield Walpole Wangford with Henham Wantisden Wenhaston with Mells Hamlet Westerfield Westhallilk Westleton Weston Wickham Market Willingham St Mary Wissett Witnesham Worlingham Wrentham Yoxford
Other settlements	Aldringham All Saints' South Elmham Ashby Brampton Carlton Eastbridge Gunton Henstead Herringfleet Kelsale Kirkley Mells Minsmere Pakefield Sizewell Somerleyton St Nicholas South Elmham Stoven Thorpeness Walton Wangford Wenhaston
See also: Listed buildings in Suffolk Coastal Listed buildings in Waveney Suffolk Coastal local elections Waveney local elections 2019 East Suffolk District Council election Waveney (UK Parliament constituency)

show v t Ceremonial county of Suffolk
Boroughs or districts	Babergh East Suffolk Ipswich Mid Suffolk West Suffolk
Major settlements	Aldeburgh Beccles Brandon Bungay Bury St Edmunds Clare Eye Felixstowe Framlingham Hadleigh Halesworth Haverhill Ipswich Kesgrave Leiston Lowestoft Mildenhall Needham Market Newmarket Orford Saxmundham Southwold Stowmarket Sudbury Woodbridge See also: List of civil parishes in Suffolk
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