Arundel Castle in Arundel, West Sussex, England is a restored medieval castle. It was founded by Roger de Montgomery on Christmas Day 1067. Roger became the first to hold the earldom of Arundel by the graces of William the Conqueror. The Castle was damaged in the English Civil War and then restored in the 18th and 19th centuries.

From the 11th century onward, the Castle has served as a hereditary stately home and has been in the family of the Duke of Norfolk for over 400 years. It is still the principal seat of the Norfolk family. It is a Grade I listed building.

Work started on Arundel Castle in 1067 during the reign of William the Conqueror as a fortification for the mouth of the River Arun and a defensive position for the surrounding land against invasion from France. The original structure was a motte and double bailey castle. Roger de Montgomery was declared the first Earl of Arundel as the King granted him the property as part of a much larger package of hundreds of manors. Roger was a cousin of William's and had stayed in Normandy to keep the peace there whilst William was off in England. He was rewarded for his loyalty with extensive lands in the Welsh Marches and across the country, together with one fifth of Sussex (Arundel Rape). (For other reasons, the generally accepted first creation of the title Earl of Arundel lies in the year 1138 with William d'Aubigny, confirmed in 1155.)

After Roger de Montgomery died, the Castle reverted to the crown under Henry I. The King, in his will, left Arundel Castle and the attached land to his second wife Adeliza of Louvain. In 1138, three years after Henry's death, she married William d'Albini II (aka d'Aubigny, the first Earl, of the d'Aubigny family of Saint-Martin-d'Aubigny in Normandy). William was responsible for creating the stone shell on the motte, thus increasing the defence and status of the castle.
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Castle Visits
Castle Visits are "free flow": there are guides in most rooms during normal opening hours.
Guided tours can be arranged by application in advance.
Guide books are on sale with leaflets available in French, German, Spanish, Italian, Danish, Norwegian, Czech, Polish, Russian, Dutch, Chinese and Japanese.
‘Arundel Castle’ -a new hardback connoisseur guide book written by Dr John Martin Robinson, the Duke's Librarian, published in 2011, is available from the Castle Shop.
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Facilities on the ground floor of the Castle:

Food & Drink -- Our licensed counter service restaurant and our coffee shop offer full ranges of refreshments to tempt and delight our visitors including a selection of hot and cold beverages, light lunches, cakes and pastries.
Castle Shop in the old Castle kitchens, you will discover a wide and interesting range of gift ideas for everyone
Lavatories are located adjacent to the kitchen garden, and on the ground floor of the Castle.
Garden Tours
By advance booking only, minimum party number 20 people. Please contact ourك Information & Bookings Administrator on 01903 882173 extension 230 or visits@arundelcastle.org for further information.
The Glasshouse with traditional and exotic plants are open and the Kitchen Gardens, with organically grown vegetables, may be viewed and there is something new in the flower gardens each year.
The Keep
If you are able to climb the 131 steps up to the Keep, the views of the River Arun, the sea, the town and the Downs are worth the effort. Photographs cannot do it justice. Access is closed at 16:30 pm, or sooner if dusk falls early.

disabled Access - Useful Information
Please contact our Information & Bookings Administrator on 01903 882173 or visits@arundelcastle.org in advance of your visit if you have any particular questions or concerns.

Setting down
Outside main Castle gates in Mill Road, Arundel if required.
Parking
In designated parking in Arundel town car park in Mill Road opposite the main Castle gates. Initial slope from Castle Gates to Castle, Gardens & Grounds.
Transport
A passenger buggy is available in the grounds – please enquire at the Ticket Office.
Castle – ground floor
Accessible via ramped entrance and passenger lift
Castle – first floor
Accessible via passenger lift (24" / 40cm wide)
Lavatories / WCs
Adapted WCs in Castle
Gardens
Partly accessible, slopes, gravel paths.
Grounds
Partly accessible, slopes, tarmac paths.
Castle Shop
Ground floor. Level entrance

Castle Restaurant
Ground floor. Level entrance
General
The Castle is built on a hill and there are some steep stairs and narrow passages, which can make mobility difficult. About 2/3 of the Castle interior is accessible to wheelchairs, subject to some width limits – please see above.
Independent Information
DisabledGo provides free detailed access information for disabled people across the UK.
Please visit the National Disabled Access Guide – Arundel Castle at www.disabledgo.info for independent information about accessibility at Arundel Castle

Opening Date 2012

Open Tuesday to Sundays inclusive, and August Mondays and Bank Holiday Mondays. Opening times 14thC Fitzalan Chapel, Gardens & Grounds 10:00am to 5:00pm Restaurant & Coffee Shop 10:00am to 4:30pm Gift Shop 10:00am to 5:00pm Castle Keep 10:00am to 4:30pm Castle Rooms 12:00noon to 5:00pm Last admission 4:00pm

		Admission Price 2012

Family Ticket = 2 Adults and up to 3 Children (5 to 16); Child 5 to 16. Under 5’s free

some photos