Walking around Orford UK

 

The Castle and Crown Hotel and restaurant, is (I believe) the only hotel in Orford.  The owner used to be the host of an English t.v. show called The Hotel Inspector. Orford Castle was built in 1170.  The polygonal shape of the Castle makes it unique.  It is also unique because it is mostly intact.  You can visit inside and wander through the many passages and rooms.  There is even a basement with a well. The Castle was closed when we visited, but we enjoyed walking around it.

St. Bartholomew’s Church was built at the same time as the castle.  The church was re-built in the 14th century after the prosperous shipping trade had grown.

We have noticed that the old churches have old grave stones on their lots.  I was curious, so I did some research.  Before the Burial Acts of 1853, most people were buried in church grave yards.  After the Burial Acts, officials could purchase land as civil graveyards.

We meandered through the village until we came to the water.  Just in time to catch the early sunset.

The small village of Orford is near the sea with only a river and the Orford Ness sitting between.  The Orford Ness is the largest shingle spit in the UK.   A spit is a type of bar or beach that occurs when the waves hit the beach at an oblique angle, moving sediment down the beach.  A shingle beach is the term used in England to refer to a pebble beach.

Another fun day in the UK!