ARUNDEL CASTLE

Sussex

Arundel Castle is magnificent.  A breathtaking sight seen from the town, dominating everything for miles around.  It also has a long and involved history.  The first Castle was built by Roger de Montgomery, Earl of Sussex and Shrewsbury, to a motte with two baileys plan very similar to Windsor (in fact, so similar is Arundel to Windsor that when the BBC wanted to film at Windsor for "Doctor Who" and were refused they used Arundel instead - only the well-informed would spot the difference!).

The Castle was captured by Henry I.  A second siege occurred not very long afterwards when Queen Matilda occupied the Castle and King Stephen laid the siege - which was successful forcing Matilda to flee.

In 1243 the Castle passed to the Fitzalans whose line continued to occupy the Castle until the 1580s.  They put in vast amounts of re-building work including the Barbican of around 1295.  In 1580 the Castle passed to the even more illustrious Howard family who, as Dukes of Norfolk, have owned it ever since.

Yet another siege, in the Civil War, reduced the Castle to a ruinous state.  It stayed this way for many years, with some small works being done.  It was the fifteenth Duke who constructed the magnificent confection we see today.  Although a lot of the work is unsubtle there can be absolutely no doubt that the Duke had a fantastic eye for spectacle...and there are very few Castles in England which can beat Arundel on that score!

The Castle is open to the public throughout much of the year.

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2001