Legend of the Wildman

This is a story that was written about early 1200s, it was a monk in Essex  who wrote this down in his chronicles and it is supposed to of happened about 30 to 40 years before he wrote it;

Shortly after the castle was built fisherman at sea caught a wild man in their nets, he was handed over to the authorities as a curiosity as he was completely naked and showed human form in all his body. He had hair on his head but at the ends it appeared worn, torn and split; his beard was prolific and like a pine cone and all over his chest he was shaggy and bristly, he was a very hairy man.

He was kept at the castle and guarded continually day and night so that he could not get to the sea. Whatever was put in front of him he would eat eagerly, he would take the fish both raw and cooked but the raw he would squeeze hard until all the moisture was drained, then eat it, however he would not make any utterance he wouldn’t speak or couldn’t speak he didn’t even speak when hanged by his feet and tortured.

Although he was brought to the church he showed no sign of respect or belief either bending his knee or bowing his head whenever he saw any holy objects. At sunset he would make for his bed and lie in until sunrise.

It came about they took him to the sea harbour and released him out to the sea after winding 3 layers of strong nets around him. He headed for deep water and after freeing himself from all the nets he emerged time and time again from the deep waters and for some while would watch those observing him. Then he would frequently dive under and after a short while emerge as if he was mocking the spectators; because he had escaped from their nets.

After playing in the sea for some time like this, and when all hope of his returning had gone, of his own accord he again came right up to them swimming with the waves and stayed with them for 2 months after which he secretly fled out to sea and afterwards was nowhere to be seen.

Local legends refer to him as the Orford merman or the wild man of Orford. It is not easy to establish whether he was a human man or some kind of fish displaying human form or if he was an evil spirit hiding in the body of some drowned man.

The Feriers

The Feriers of Suffolk known for generations to live in areas around Suffolk.  They are supposed to be small and sandy-coloured with green eyes and assume the bird form of sand martins. They like human kindnesses and are angry at bad behaviour. They have been known to bring lost children home and a runaway animal might, for example, be found back at home.

They are wayfaring spirits and not sociable with mankind, consequently their reputed haunts are avoided after nightfall. If you go out on the heath at night you may see the tiny fairies dancing round on the toadstools and if you are lucky enough you may find delicate Fairy loaves.

One lady reported that on her way home when walking past the common she saw doll like people dancing in a ring wearing sparkling clothes.

Another tale says we could hear these noises, like . . . like a sort of a little bird's noises, like sort of twittering noises and then suddenly little fairy like creatures appeared and disappeared again quickly for I think they knew they had been seen.

A sea dragon has been spotted along this coastline. It is said that the Feriers visit him when the moon is full. They can be seen on these special nights dancing along the seashore, collecting tiny shells and singing songs to the dragon.

Orford Castle

At the time of the Doomsday Book, Orford was just a small hamlet.

Less than one hundred years later, it was transformed by Henry II into a busy port with a magnificent castle being built between 1165 and 1173.

This medieval royal fortress is unusual in its complex design of a main building with two projecting rectangular turrets. It is the earliest castle whose entire building accounts survive and these are held in the Public Records Office in London.

Today only the magnificent keep remains. It is in near perfect condition and is one of the best preserved in the country. The huge earthworks and mounds are still clearly visible and give a rough idea of the size of the original structure with its outer wall.