Orford Ness

Orford Ness
Near Orford, Suffolk
Looking towards Orford Ness from Orford castle
Orford Ness is located in Suffolk
Orford Ness
Orford Ness
Coordinates52°04′53″N 01°33′31″E / 52.08139°N 1.55861°E / 52.08139; 1.55861
TypeNational Nature Reserve, Site of Special Scientific Interest, internationally important site for nature conservation, former military test site
Site information
OperatorMinistry of Defence, Atomic Weapons Research Establishment, National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty
StatusInactive
Site history
In use1913 – early 1983

Orford Ness is a cuspate foreland shingle spit on the Suffolk coast in Great Britain, linked to the mainland at Aldeburgh and stretching along the coast to Orford and down to North Weir Point, opposite Shingle Street. It is divided from the mainland by the River Alde, and was formed by longshore drift along the coast. The material of the spit comes from places further north, such as Dunwich. Near the middle point of its length, at the foreland point or 'Ness', once stood Orfordness Lighthouse,[1] demolished in summer 2020 owing to the encroaching sea.[2] In the name of the lighthouse (and the radio transmitting station – see below), 'Orfordness' is written as one word.

  1. ^ "Orfordness Lighthouse". Trinity House. Archived from the original on 31 October 2007. Retrieved 11 October 2007.
  2. ^ "Orfordness Lighthouse: Historic Suffolk landmark reduced to rubble". BBC. 11 August 2020.