castle village suffolk england located miles northeast views built henry_ii england consolidate royal power region preserved described historian remarkable keeps england unique design probably based byzantine architecture stands earth covered remains outer fortifications history 12th century prior building castle suffolk dominated family held title earl norfolk owned key castles group barons anarchy reign henry_ii wished establish royal influence region henry confiscated castles hugh returned hugh henry decided build royal castle near construction work began concluding site miles sea lying flat ground terrain slowly stretching away river ore half mile away design unique termed remarkable keeps england historian foot metre high central tower circular cross section rectangular towers built foot metre wide structure tower based precise set proportions dimensions following root ratio found english churches period interior built high quality stonework broad foot inch metre wide best chambers designed catch early morning sun whilst parts draught doors carefully designed windows originally roof upper hall formed effect tall surrounded curtain wall probably flanking towers fortified gatehouse protecting relatively small bailey outer defences probably represented main defences castle marshes nearby drained turning village sheltered port castle including surrounding ditch stone bridge cost build work possibly conducted master mason brought far away detailed stonework carved limestone normandy remainder stone variously local limestone design attracted historical interest traditional explanations unusual plan argued castle transitional military design combining circular features later castles square angled buttresses earlier norman fortifications recent scholarship explanation design hard justify military terms buttresses created additional blind spots defenders whilst chambers staircase corners weakened walls attack keeps continued built whilst henry_ii aware fully circular castle designs building round constructed norfolk example historians questioned extent design seen legitimately transitional instead historians believe design castle instead probably driven political symbolism argues plain simple architecture century nobility summoned images king arthur widely believed roman greek links banded angular features resembled image imperial power including roof based hall recently built constantinople 13th 15th centuries start 13th century royal authority suffolk firmly established henry_ii crushed revolt heavily garrisoned conflict knights based collapse rebellion henry ordered permanent castle political importance castle diminished henry death port grew importance handling trade famous port beginning century castle captured invaded england invitation english barons disillusioned king john governor royal castle young followed edward governorship castle given family passed marriage 1st earl suffolk granted longer royal castle passed families whilst surrounding economy went decline estuary river ore spit increased making harbour access difficult resulting decline trade reducing importance castle centre local government castle surrounding lands bought family century north wall bailey survived roof upper floors badly decayed 2nd proposed destroying building prevented government grounds formed valuable landmark ships approaching holland wishing avoid nearby francis son called francis undertook conservation efforts installing new relatively flat lead roof replacement upper floor installed francis furnished use apartment guests 1840s surrounding bailey wall mural towers vanished having stone foundations seen modern period sir bought castle gave property appeal money maintain restore began shortly second world war castle barbed wire form originally intended anti aircraft erected castle instead radar concrete floor installed south east tower support equipment buildings removed end conflict given maintained english_heritage castle structure remaining intact remains bailey wall visible ditches visible earthworks medieval instead result earlier bailey walls created exhibits upper hall featuring displays archaeological artefacts found locally archaeological work understand surrounding environment continued recently castle scheduled monument grade listed building wild man castle associated legend wild man according chronicler naked wild man covered hair caught nets local fishermen man brought castle held months questioned tortured said behaved feral fashion wild man finally escaped castle later accounts described captive incident appears encouraged growth wild men carvings local later medieval period exist coastal areas suffolk norfolk near
Orford Castle