Arundel is know for having some nice holiday cottages in sussex, but what about the biggest ‘accomodation’ in the area, Arundel Castle?
The castle was built by Roger de Montgomery, then the newly appointed Earl of Arundel, a friend of William the conqueror in 1068, on what is rumored to be an old Saxon fort, the gatehouse followed in 1070, making it close to 1000 years old. The castle was confiscated from Robert de Belleme who had inherited the Earldom, but rebelled against king Henry I. The castle and surrounding lands were inherited by his second wife and she later got married to William d’Albini who built the stone sheel keep around the motte. King Henry II built a majority of the castle and Bestowed it onto d’Albini when he was given the title ‘Earl of Arundel’.
The castle passed from the d’Albinis to the Fitzalans in the 13th century and then onto the Howards in the 16th century and has been the seat for the Dukes of Norfolk, when Sir John Howard was bestowed the title of Duke of Norfolk, for well over 850 years and is still in their hands. the 17th Duke of Norfolk, Miles Francis, is the current owner of the castle. During the Civil war the castle took great damage when it was beseiged twice! All that now remains of the original castle is the gatehouse. Damages to the castle were only repaired by the 11th Duke of Norfolk at end of the 18th century, and finally completed by the 15th Duke in 1900, whose restoration work made it one of the first buildings with electric lights and central heating.
The Barons Hall is rumored to be as long as a football pitch and the castle is over 1000 acres, to which public access is allowed. The castle is open from April to the end of October for public viewing.
So if your ever on uk family holidays and in West Sussex, pop in and pay a visit to one of Englands greatest castles.
