There are nearly 1,000 years of history at this great castle, situated in magnificent grounds overlooking the River Arun in West Sussex and built at the end of the 11th century by Roger de Montgomery, Earl of Arundel.
The oldest feature is the motte, an artificial mound, over 100 feet high from the dry moat, and constructed in 1068: followed by the gatehouse in 1070. Under his will, King Henry I (1068-1135) settled the Castle and lands in dower on his second wife, Adeliza of Louvain. Three years after his death she married William d’Albini II, who built the stone shell keep on the motte. King Henry II (1133-89), who built much of the oldest part of the stone Castle, in 1155 confirmed William d’Albini II as Earl of Arundel, with the Honour and Castle of Arundel.
Apart from the occasional reversion to the Crown, Arundel Castle has descended directly from 1138 to the present day, carried by female heiresses from the d’Albinis to the Fitzalans in the 13th century and then from the Fitzalans to the Howards in the 16th century and it has been the seat of the Dukes of Norfolk and their ancestors for over 850 years. From the 15th to the 17th centuries the Howards were at the forefront of English history, from the Wars of the Roses, through the Tudor period to the Civil War.
The building we see now owes much to Henry, 15th Duke of Norfolk (1847-1917) and the restoration project was completed in 1900. It was one of the first English country houses to be fitted with electric light, integral fire fighting equipment, service lifts and central heating. The gravity fed domestic water supply also supplied the town.
Tags: Arundel Castle, There's Always One, Vacation, West Sussex
The garden is a memorial to the 14th Earl of Arundel, an avid art collector. The garden has a central canal with a domed pergola and fountains. The centrepiece of the garden is a rockwork mountain planted with palms and ferns to represent another world. A green oak version of ‘Oberon’s Palace’ flanked by two oak obelisks has a shell lined interior with a stalagmite fountain with a gilded coronet ‘dancing’ on a jet of water.*
* Information from Arundel Castle by John Martin Robinson
Tags: Arundel Castle, East Sussex, Gardens, Vacation
The idea of seeing the sea – of being near it – watching its changes by sunrise, sunset, moonlight, and noonday – in calm, perhaps in storm – fills and satisfies my mind.
Charlotte Bronte
Tags: Brighton, Cherie's Place Thought, Moon, Moonlight, Sea, Vacation, West Sussex
The Fitzalan Chapel is the chancel of the church of St Nicholas in the western grounds of Arundel Castle.
The church of St Nicholas is one of the very few church buildings that is divided into two worship areas, a Roman Catholic area (the chancel) and an Anglican area (the nave and transepts). The chancel of the Fitzalan Chapel, is used as the private mausoleum of the Dukes of Norfolk. It is a Grade I listed building.[1]
Richard FitzAlan, 3rd Earl of Arundel, was responsible for the building of the Chapel posthumously according to his will. The original Fitzalan Chapel consisted of the entire building, and was built as the Collegiate Church of the Holy Trinity in 1380 by commission of Richard FitzAlan, 4th Earl of Arundel, whose family owned Arundel Castle. It is an example of Perpendicular Gothic architecture, and the architect and mason is believed to have been William Wynford. A number of noted Fitzalan and Howard family members are buried in the chapel, many in tombs adorned with sculpted effigies. Most of the recently deceased Dukes of Norfolk are buried there.[2]
Tags: Arundel, Arundel Castle, Fitzalan Chapel, Vacation
In the castle Rose Garden we have a wonderful array of roses planted for their colour, scent and structures giving everyone a good idea of different varieties, looking for a shrub, climber or standard rose. This garden is enhanced by the dramatic backdrop of the ancient castle, which is reflected by the gothic archways and seats designed especially to blend aesthetically with the castle’s gothic windows.
See the following link for a tour of the Rose Garden:
A Tour of the Rose Gardens with Martin from Arundel Castle on Vimeo.
Tags: Arundel, Arundel Cathedral, Garden, Rose, Vacation, West Sussex
The water gardens at Arundel Castle openened in 2020. The gardens feature three ponds connected by a boardwalk and rustic bridge. The ponds are historic ’stew ponds’ that originally contained fish to supply the castle and nearby Dominican Friary.
Head gardener Martin Duncan has re-designed the historic ‘stew ponds’ at Arundel Castle, keeping the original framework of the ponds. He worked with the estate foresters to sustainably source the timber for the boathouse and roundhouse which were built by local artisans Kevin Coull and Bradley Hanson. The thatching was completed by a Master Thatcher, Gavin McDonald, and his sons.
Martin commented: “We have created this wonderful garden for visitors to enjoy the water plants, wildflowers and wildlife in a way that feels unobtrusive and natural. The thatched boathouse and roundhouse blends beautifully with the charming scenery while serving as a focal point for visitors.
“It’s a safe haven for wildlife and a lovely outdoor space for our visitors to relax in. We’re delighted to see people enjoying it.
“The Arundel Castle Garden team have done a wonderful job in the planting up of the water gardens and creating wildflower areas. The water lilies were placed from our rowing boat, Jemima Puddle-Duck.”
Tags: Arundel Castle, Dominican Friary, East Sussex, Stew Ponds, Vacation, Water Gardens
