 The castle is built on a chalk spur at a commanding
height above the river Arun dominating the small town below.
William the Conqueror
conferred the earldom on Roger de Montgomery with specific
responsibilities to coastal defence. Earl Roger built
a strong stone castle on the site of earlier Saxon fortification.
The 11th century mound and two baileys
survive to the present day. However, no attack came from the seas. Of the
three sieges that occurred in the castle's history, two were caused by direct rebellion of
the castle's owners against the monarchy.
In 1102 Henry I besieged
the castle. Its owner Robert de Belesme had started
the building of the circular stone keep. Once in the
hands of Henry I the work continued and it may have been completed
by Henry II whose building at Windsor it closely resembles.
The castle was besieged again when William de Albini, who
had received the Honour of Arundel in 1138, harboured the
Dowager Empress Matilda who had a rival claim to that of King
Stephen. Although beaten the family was allowed its
tenure until the male line died out.
Passing through the female line to
the Fitzlan family and then again to the Howards, dukes of Norfolk, descendants of William
de Albini still live in the castle to this day. The Fitzlan family remade the upper
part of the gatehouse, the two flanking barbican towers and the four similarly shaped
towers beyond the keep. They also built the chapel which still bears the family's
name.
The final siege occurred in 1643 when the
Parliamentarians bombarded the castle for a month. Cromwell's troops left in
1648 ensuring the castle was in a ruinous state. After the reformation Charles II
restored all the family's titles and lands. However the castle in such bad condition
that the family did not return to live there for 70 years.
In the 1780's the 10th duke began
restoration in the Gothic style but in the 19th century most of this work was swept away
and reconstruction of a more straightforward style was undertaken.
Today what little of
the original castle remains hidden by impressive late Victorian
masonry.
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Arundel
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