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Driving
inland from the seaside resort of Littlehampton, the flat coastal
plains are dominated by the town of Arundel. It doesn't look
real, rather like the scenery from a Hollywood film as it rises very
unexpectedly from the flat ground, a magnificent castle perched on
top of a hill against the backdrop of the South Downs.
Arundel Castle,
England's second largest
castle, is
situated in magnificent grounds overlooking the River Arun
and was built at the end of the 11th Century by Roger de
Montgomery. It has been the seat of the
Dukes of Norfolk for over 700 years. The Duke of Norfolk is England's Premier Duke, the title having
been conferred on Sir John Howard in 1483 by his friend King
Richard III. The Dukedom also carries with it the hereditary
office of Earl Marshal of England.
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. Perhaps
the most famous of the Dukes of Norfolk was the 3rd
Duke of Norfolk, uncle of Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard,
both of whom married
Henry VIII. The Tudor period was a politically dangerous time
for the Dukes of Norfolk: the 3rd
Duke only escaped the death penalty because King Henry
VIII died the night before the execution was due! The 4th Duke
was beheaded for plotting to marry Mary Queen of
Scots and Philip Howard, 13th Earl of Arundel (1557-95)
died in the Tower of London for his catholic faith.
The castle has undergone much restoration and change over
the centuries.
In
1643 during the Civil War, the original castle was badly
damaged and it was later restored in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Arundel's steep main street is flanked on both sides by hotels, antique shops, craft shops, tea rooms and
restaurants,
and leads to the top of the hill where you will find the imposing
Catholic Cathedral. Commissioned by Henry, 15th Duke of Norfolk in December
1868, the architect was Joseph Aloysius Hansom, who also
designed Birmingham Town Hall and numerous Catholic churches, but is
perhaps better known as the inventor of the Hansom Cab! The
cathedral is built of brick clad with Bath stone, in the French
Gothic style and was completed in 1873. Why
not take a trip along the Arun River from Littlehampton to Arundel
and try to imagine the smugglers of old making the same trip at
night, unloading their contraband
cargoes
of tea,
tobacco and brandy in the town. Arundel is also home to the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, where you
can see thousands of ducks, geese and swans as well as rare and
migratory birds.
©
Historic
UK
How to get here
Arundel
is situated between Chichester and Brighton
in West Sussex,
approximately 5 miles from Littlehampton on the south coast.
Useful information
Arundel Castle:
Open from 31 March
to 28 October 2007 Tuesday to Sunday inclusive. Closed Mondays. Open
Bank Holiday Mondays. Tel: 01903 883136 / 01903 882173
Contact:
Bryan McDonald – Head of Opening
Web:
http://www.arundelcastle.org
Arundel Cathedral:
Tel:
01903 882297
Arundel Museum and Heritage Centre: Exhibitions
of life in Arundel over the ages. Tel:
01903 885708
Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust: Tel:
01903 883355
USEFUL
LINKS
Accommodation in
Arundel
- The Swan Hotel
Accommodation in
West
Sussex
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DESTINATIONS
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