Thursday, February 18, 2010

Arundel Castle West Sussex one of my Favourite Places.

I was very Lucky Four years ago to have my First Visit to Arundel Castle at the time Nick ( Hubby ) and I were on our Honeymoon.

As you drive down into Arundel you get your First glimpse of the Magnificent Castle lets face it you cant miss it the sheer beauty of the place fills the skyline, I could not wait to get a closer look and believe me I was not Disappointed.
If any of you get a chance to visit Arundel Castle I would recommend any one to go, as you see from the Picture it truly is a Beautiful Castle.
I think a lot of people forget about the History and some of the Beautiful places we do have right here in the UK , I would say to people visit these beautiful places. Who knows you may be surprised but you certainly wont be disappointed.




The Castle has also been used for major features such as:
The Young Victoria.
Henry VIII (Granada TV) Antiques Roadshow(BBC TV)
The Big Read (BBC TV)
The Madness of King George (AllAhoo Ltd)
The Prince and the Pauper (BBC TV)
Victoria and Albert (BBC TV)
Great Houses of the South (Meridian TV)
Royalty A-Z (Ardent Productions)
Bargain Hunt (BBC TV)

Some of The History of Arundel Castle 

There is nearly 1,000 years of history at this great castle, situated in magnificent grounds overlooking the River Arun in West Sussex and built at the end of the 11th century by Roger de Montgomery, Earl of Arundel. The oldest feature is the motte, an artificial mound, over 100 feet high from the ditch, and constructed in 1068: followed by the gatehouse in 1070.

King Henry II (1133-89), who built much of the oldest part of the stone Castle, in 1155 confirmed William d'Albini II as Earl of Arundel, with the Honor and Castle ofArundel. It can be said that, apart from the occasional reversion to the Crown, Arundel Castle has descended directly from 1138 to the present day, carried by female heiresses from the d'Albinis to the Fitzalans in the 13th century and then from the Fitzalans to the Howards in the 16th century and it has been the seat of the Dukes of Norfolk and their ancestors for over 850 years.



Queen Victoria
The results of all this history are concentrated at the Castle, which houses a fascinating collection of fine furniture dating from the 16th century, tapestries, clocks, and portraits by Van Dyck, Gainsborough, Lawrence, Reynolds, etc. Personal possessions of Mary Queen of Scots these include her Prayer Book and Rosary Beads which she had when she was Be - Headed. A selection of historical religious and heraldic items from the Duke of Norfolk's collection are also on display.

There have been many royal visits: Queen Victoria (1819-1901) came from Osborne House with her husband, Prince Albert, for three days in 1846, for which the bedroom and library furniture were specially commissioned and made by a leading London furniture designer. Her portrait by William Fowler was specially commissioned by the 13th Duke in 1843 you can see a picture of this Painting above.
In the Castle is another portrait of King Charles II by Van Dyck this Portrait really moved me when you look at it even now you can see the Sadness in his eyes , as I stood there I felt the hairs on the back of my neck stand it. It's one of those portraits that affect you but you seem mesmerized by it , for a portrait to affect you like that after so many years shows what a magnificent Artist Van Dyck was.

The view you see as you walk down from the Car Park.



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The view you see as you walk down from the Car Park.

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Some of The Wire Statues that you see Featured in the Gardens.




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