Orford Castle: The Wild Man Legend

Orford Castle, with its distinctive polygonal keep, stands as one of the most unusual and innovative castle designs in medieval England. Built between 1165 and 1173 by Henry II, the castle’s experimental architecture features a cylindrical tower with three massive rectangular turrets projecting outward, creating a structure unlike any other in the kingdom. Located on the Suffolk coast near the enigmatic shingle spit of Orford Ness, the castle has long been associated with strange occurrences and maritime mysteries—none more bizarre than the legend of the Wild Man of Orford.

According to chronicles from the late 12th century, fishermen working in the waters near Orford Castle netted a strange creature that appeared to be half-man, half-beast. Covered in hair and unable or unwilling to speak, the Wild Man was brought to the castle and imprisoned. He was subjected to torture to determine whether he was human, demon, or some kind of sea creature, but he never uttered a word. The Wild Man was kept at Orford Castle for several months, during which he would eat raw fish and occasionally escape to the sea, only to return to captivity. Eventually, he disappeared into the ocean for good, leaving behind a mystery that has never been solved.

The Wild Man’s ghost—or perhaps his supernatural essence—is said to haunt Orford Castle to this day. Visitors report seeing a strange, hairy figure moving through the shadows of the keep, particularly in the lower chambers where he would have been held prisoner. Some describe hearing inhuman screams echoing from within the walls, sounds that seem more animal than human. Others report an overwhelming sense of claustrophobia and panic in certain rooms, as if experiencing the Wild Man’s terror at his captivity.

The castle’s location near the coast adds to its eerie atmosphere. Strange lights have been seen moving between the castle and the shore, and some witnesses claim to have seen a naked, hair-covered figure running toward the sea before vanishing. The phenomenon occurs most frequently on misty nights when the castle is shrouded in sea fog. Whether the Wild Man was a selkie from Celtic legend, a mentally disturbed shipwreck survivor, or something more mysterious remains unknown. English Heritage maintains the castle, and while they present the Wild Man story as medieval legend, many visitors leave convinced that something strange still lingers in this isolated Suffolk fortress.