Arundel Castle, the Dukes and the Earls: A Potted History

The 3^rd and 4^th earls built the College of the Holy Trinity which included a large chapel (now known as the Fitzalan Chapel) as well as rebuilding the existing parish church. These two buildings are separated by iron gates that are only opened on very special occasions.

There were 12 Fitzalan Earls between 1272 and 1572, who all made various changes to the castle architecture.  The 12^th Earl’s only son died aged 18 in 1556. The Earl also had two daughters, Jane, who was married to Lord Lumley, and Mary. 

Mary married Thomas Howard, 4^th Duke of Norfolk but died in 1557 after giving birth to a son, Phillip.  This meant that Philip became the heir of the 12th Earl Arundel.  This is how the Fitzalan Earls of Arundel became linked with the Howard Dukes of Norfolk.    Due to the 4^th Duke’s involvement with Mary Queen of Scots which led to his execution in 1572’ the title of Duke of Norfolk was attainted/suspended.  As the Duke was executed for treason his son Phillip could not inherit his title, but he was still entitled to the Earldom of Arundel through his mother, daughter of the 12^th Earl. 

Phillip, 13^th Earl, was, in turn, imprisoned in the Tower of London for his faith and died there in 1595 never having seen his son who was born while he was in prison. The title was again attainted!  His son Thomas only became 14^th Earl in 1604 when his lands were returned to him by James 1^st.   

Thomas retained the castle and the Fitzalan Chapel in good repair and became known as “the Collector Earl”.  He brought home a great number of historic artifacts and artworks from his visits to Europe, a few of which are still in the castle today. He also brought the artist Anthony Van Dyke to England to paint for him.  Arundel has many paintings by Van Dyke who was in great demand by the English gentry and the Royal family.  At the beginning of the English Civil War in 1642, he travelled to Europe to take Mary, daughter of Charles 1^st, to her husband William of Orange.  He later went on to Padua in Italy where he remained until his death in 1646. 

After he had left, the castle was besieged twice in December 1643, once by a Royalist force who took over the castle and then by the Parliamentarian Force.  The castle eventually surrendered after 17 days, most likely because the water supply to the castle was cut off and the Royalists were in poor health. The Parliamentary force stayed at the castle and in the Fitzalan Chapel until 1653 causing major damage.  Although the castle suffered some damage to its defences and buildings the major destruction was due to the Parliamentarians blowing up (slighting) the walls to prevent further defensive use.   

Thomas Howard, 5^th Duke of Norfolk did not regain the title until Charles 2^nd came back to the English Throne in 1660.  He spent his life in Padua and his estates were run by his brother, Henry.  In 1677 Henry became 6^th Duke although only for a few years as he died in1684 when he was succeeded by his son Henry as 7^th Duke.  The 7^th Duke was childless, and the title was inherited by his nephew, Thomas, who became the 8^th Duke. 

Thomas carried out reconstruction work at the castle including repairing the buildings around the south quadrangle. He also drew up plans for a major new house there and only used the castle for a shooting lodge, visiting just a few weeks a year.  The 8^th Duke died in 1732 and was succeeded by his brother Edward as 9^th Duke.

Edward spent most of his time away from the castle renovating Worksop Manor, he died in 1777.  All the direct line heirs of Edward had died before him, so the title was inherited by a cousin, Charles Howard of Greystoke and the Deepdene, great grandson of Henry Frederick, 15^th Earl of Arundel, who then became 10^th Duke. 

Charles liked Arundel and willingly funded the restoration of the Castle.  He died in 1786 and his son succeeded him as 11^th Duke. 

Charles, 11^th Duke was a larger than life extrovert friend of the Prince Regent and known as the Drunken Duke.  He extended and improved the Arundel estate, restoring the castle including the Barons Hall and creating the present park.  He acted mainly as his own architect and his design was in the Perpendicular Gothic/Norman style.  His most notable interior is the Library, occupying part of the shell of the Tudor Long Gallery,  which is still in the same form today.  It includes the books of the 9^th Duke and many others collected by the 10^th Duke.  He died in 1815 without any children so the title went to his third cousin, Bernard Edward Howard of Glossop another descendent of Henry Frederick, 15^th Earl of Arundel. 

The 12^th Duke extended the Great Park and cleared away houses at the top of the High Street and moved the route of the London Road to improve the castle grounds. He repaired the damaged Fitzalan Chapel and he also built the new Town Hall to accommodate the town council who had been meeting in a room located in the Fitzalan chapel.  The Duke did not live at Arundel and did not continue with the main building works.  He died in 1842 and was succeeded by his son Henry Charles.

The 13^th Duke moved into Arundel as soon as he inherited and built many farm buildings and planned the model dairy at Swanbourne Lake, he also carried out various improvements to the castle and erected the wall and gatehouse at the top of the High Street.  In December 1846 Queen Victoria and Prince Albert visited Arundel for three days.  The castle was redecorated for the occasion and she appears to have enjoyed most of her stay even though she was not overly impressed by the castle.  Henry Charles died in 1856 and his eldest son Henry Granville became the 14^th Duke. 

The 14^th Duke planned more improvements to the castle but only the new chapel between the Barons Hall and the Norman gatehouse were completed.  The Duke died in 1860.  His eldest son, Henry inherited the title at 13 and was responsible for much of the Castle we see today.

The 15^th Duke built the huge Catholic church of St Phillip Neri, in London Road, which later (in 1965) became the cathedral of Our Lady and St Phillip Howard. The Festival of Flowers at Corpus Christi is held here each year in June.   He also undertook a comprehensive building program at the castle, including new kitchens, plumbing with eight bathrooms and 65 toilets. The castle was one the first English country houses to have electric light. Duke Henry also created the private stunning chapel next to the Barons Hall and repaired the keep along with the Barbican, Gatehouse and Bevis tower. The castle as you see it now is very much the 15^th Dukes legacy to Arundel. 

When Henry died in 1917 his son Bernard, inherited the title as 16^th Duke of Norfolk, he was 9 years old!  Duke Bernard and his wife, Duchess Lavinia made changes to the castle after their marriage, adding many modern comforts.  They also added a racing stables to the estate, which became extremely successful. 

During the WWII, parts of the castle were used by the military and large guns were installed in the park to fire on the nearby coast as defence against possible invasion.  The castle was once again in the defensive frontline as it was when it was originally built 900 years earlier.  The castle estate was Bernard’s home for his whole life and where he entertained family, friends, and royalty until his death in 1975.  He was succeeded by his cousin, Miles, Lord Beaumont, great grandson of the 13^th Duke.

Duke Miles carried out substantial repairs to the castle in the 1970’s.  In 1987 Edward, Earl of Arundel and his wife moved into the castle and restored the interior of the castle.   Edward inherited the title in 2002 on the death of his father and became the 18^th Duke of Norfolk.  He has continued to restore and improve the castle and the estate with ongoing projects such as the Collector Earls Garden and the new Ponds project. 

Arundel Castle is a truly awe-inspiring place filled with history and magic just waiting to be enjoyed by visitors.

Earl Marshall of the United Kingdom.  The Dukes of Norfolk have been the hereditary Earl Marshals since 1672. The actual title has been recognised as an official office since 1386 and many holders were members of the Howard and Fitzalan families as Earl of Arundel or Duke of Norfolk.  The office involves the organisation of major state events such as Royal weddings, coronations, and funerals.