Arundel Castle

Arundel Castle was established in 1068 by Roger de Montgomery, one of William the Conqueror's closest companions, as a motte-and-bailey fortification guarding the Arun valley. The castle's massive artificial mound still dominates the West Sussex skyline. It has been the seat of the Dukes of Norfolk since the 15th century and was extensively restored in the Victorian period.

Why it mattered

• One of the earliest Norman motte-and-bailey castles in England
• Guards the Arun river gap through the South Downs
• Continuous aristocratic residence for nearly a millennium

Architecture and the site

• Large motte with shell keep
• Twin-bailey plan
• Victorian Gothic restoration overlaying the Norman core

Chronology (selected)

• 1068: Roger de Montgomery builds the motte-and-bailey
• 1138: Besieged during the Anarchy

Further reading

• John Goodall, "The English Castle" (2011)

Hub essays

• Region context: norman england conquest and governance and the shared bibliography.
• Castles and fortification: Norman castles — motte to stone.

On the map

Use Open on map to fly to this pin in the Norman expansion era. Layers are teaching overlays — pair them with charters, excavation reports, and the works above.