The Historic Town of Arundel
Although a Roman villa lies buried beneath the town, our story really begins with the creation here of a Saxon borough about 1,000 years ago. The importance of the borough was enhanced by the building of the castle in the 11th Century by Roger de Montgomery at the time of the Norman conquest.
Subsequently the town developed into a marketplace and inland port until both declined in the 19th Century.
Nowadays the town is focused on tourism. Use it as a centre to visit the surrounding countryside, enjoy the street scene of our older, largely Georgian buildings, and call in on our shops, many of which are of particular interest to antique and specialist collectors. You can discover more of our history by visiting our recently refurbished museum at 61 High Street (open Spring through to Autumn).
Perhaps the prime attraction is the castle, the seat for more than four hundred years of the Dukes of Norfolk. It was besieged twice in the 12th Century and again during the Civil War of the 17th Century. Following the last siege, it was reduced to a ruin, reoccupied in the early 18th Century, re-built in the early 19th Century and finally re-built in its present form at the end of that century. So it is part
ancient and part Victorian. The castle is open from the start of April until
the end of October - It is open Tuesday to Saturday inclusive and on
Bank Holiday Mondays.
THE PARISH CHURCH
Next to the castle lies the Parish Church of St Nicholas, built in the perpendicular style in 1380 on the site of a Norman priory. It is unusual in that the western portion came under the jurisdiction of the Church of England at the time of the Reformation in the 16th Century, but the eastern portion - the Fitzalan Chapel - remained the property of the Duke of Norfolk, and, as such, remained Roman Catholic. Access to the Chapel is through the castle grounds, but it can be viewed though a screen in the Parish Church.
THE CATHEDRAL
A little further along the hilltop is the Roman Catholic Cathedral of Our Lady and St Philip Howard. It looks old because of its 15th Century style, but was actually built between 1869 and 1873 by the 15th Duke of Norfolk to plans drawn up by JA Hansom, the designer of the Hansom cab. Originally the Parish Church of St Philip
Neri, it became the cathedral of the diocese of Arundel and Brighton in 1970. One notable annual event is the Carpet of Flowers displayed in the nave at the Feast of Corpus Christi.
WILDFOWL AND WETLANDS TRUST
Just over half-a-mile (one kilometre) to the northeast of the town along Mill Road lies the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust
(WWT). It is open every day (except Christmas Day). Please ring 01903 883 355 for up-to-date information. The Trust is provided with a gift shop, restaurant and viewing galleries whence one can observe many kinds of swan, geese and ducks - both domestic and exotic varieties. The plumage of the drakes in winter is particularly striking.
SWANBOURNE LAKE AND ARUNDEL PARK
On the way to the Trust you will pass, on the left-hand side, Swanbourne Lake. Originally a
millpond, in its steep secluded valley, it also provides a habitat for many species of wildlife. Beyond the lake lie the 1100 acres of Arundel Park where you are able to roam over largely unenclosed
down land.
ARUNDEL CASTLE CRICKET GROUND
In the castle grounds, situated between the castle and John Dunlop Racing Stables, is what is probably the most beautiful cricket ground in the world.
LEISURE ACTIVITIES
A bowling green, a putting green, tennis courts and a children's playground are located in Mill Road. The Football Club is nearby, and the Arundel (Town) Cricket Club is sited in a rural setting to the west of the town beside the Chichester Road. Motorboats can be hired for trips on the river and, in the latter part of the summer following the dredging operations, rowing boats can be hired on Swanbourne Lake. Coffee mornings and exhibitions take place at the Norfolk Centre and St. Nicholas's Hall near the Old Bridge. There is the Priory Playhouse in London Road where local drama groups present their productions and a series of concerts is held in the Cathedral and the Parish Church during the year.
Arundel Ghost Experience
@ dramaZone, Duke's Path
Top of the High Street, Arundel, West Sussex
Fast becoming a cult, this is a unique 20-minute candlelit tour of the old prison cells beneath the Arundel Town Hall (circa 1836) complete with a few local ghost tales and some fun frights. If you don't believe in ghosts before your visit, you most certainly will afterwards. Spooky and cool! or Bookings and enquiries Tel: 01903 889821 or email
admin@arundelghostexperience.com Visit our website: www.arundelghostexperience.com
ARUNDEL FESTIVAL
The Arundel Festival takes place each year centred around the August bank holiday. Drama and concerts are provided by Arundel Festival Society and more light-hearted entertainment by the Festival Fringe, including the popular
Gallery Trail. Details and availability of programmes can be ascertained from the Visitor Information Centre.
VISITOR INFORMATION CENTRE
This is located at 61 High Street, Arundel, BN18 9AJ. (Telephone 01903 882268). On the internet:
www.sussex-by-the-sea.co.uk. E-mail: arundel.vic@arun.gov.uk They can help you find accommodation, advise
you on places of interest and tell you about events in the town and district. Do call in!
Arundel also has its own web site at www.arundel.org.uk
The Arundel Chamber of Commerce extends a very warm welcome to all our visitors. Arundel is situated on the A27 between Worthing and Chichester.
EATING OUT
Both residents and visitors are spoilt for choice in Arundel. The wealth of eating and drinking places in such a small town is unparalleled. Historic buildings from different periods in Arundel's long past house tea-rooms, bistros, restaurants and public houses in profusion. Whether your need is for the essential Arundel cream tea, a traditional pub lunch, or just a glass of wine in the fresh air, there are some 20 eating establishments to choose from.
Dining in the evening can be a problem. Deciding that's the problem!
Cordon bleu or a bar snack? Indian, Chinese or Italian? Wine bar, haute cuisine or a bistro? Fish and chips by the riverbank or a pizza whilst watching the tennis?
Many pubs offer a full evening menu with the convivial atmosphere that is quintessentially British and the bonus of British ales on tap! Most of the hotels in town have excellent cuisines and are very welcoming to non-residents.
A number of outlets can provide take-away snacks and sandwiches for picnics but on-site facilities can cater for visitors to Arundel Castle, Swanbourne Lake, the Wildfowl Trust, the Mini Golf course, the riverside by the bridge or the famous Black Rabbit pub in its beautiful location just outside of town. When the Farmers' Market takes place, there is often a hog-roast in the Town Square At other festivals during the year there are roadside stalls selling food.
SHOPPING IN THE TOWN
In Arundel, treasure hunting guarantees exciting finds - when you leave the tourist sites behind and search for your own special interests. Today, Arundel offers much more than antiques and curios, which established it many years ago as a collectors' Mecca - but it still has plenty of those too. In the High Street you can choose your house decor from the painted effects on the walls to show off the stylish prints or old maps you select, to the classic furniture which surrounds you - with an unparalleled choice of curios to astound Your guests.
The selection of shops has grown in variety and sophistication in recent years. Speciality shops and colourful boutiques offer everything from designer gifts and affordable objects d'art to aromatherapy based soaps and even expedition outfitting! Fine jewellery and rustic crafts jostle with cigarette card collections and wooden toys and teddy bears. Unique clothing for adults and children can be found in Tarrant Street and several stores offer an extensive range of outdoor clothing and footwear. Craft shops for needle work, dried flowers and plants will satisfy the nimble fingered.
Art lovers will find numerous galleries, prints and framing shops to cover all tastes - with an extremely talented glass engraver providing a customised service in the delightful Tarrant Square. Tucked away in the entrance to Crown Yard Car Park are a
re-cycled Designer Clothes shop and a store with highly specialised appliances and tools for the less able. Other stores are also tucked away in Castle Mews, Printing House Arcade and River Road with even more across the bridge in Queen Street.
Not all the shops are the occasional variety. There is a thriving set of shops offering the basic commodities of life. Hairdressers abound, with our own traditional men's barber next door to an Osteopath and a Chiropodist. One of the friendliest Post Offices around is in pole position right near the bridge over the Arun River. The local pharmacy is well placed in the High Street for toiletry products and all the necessary drugs and medicines.
Florists offer fresh, local blooms and foliage with that extra, personal service for bouquets and deliveries. The Town Square holds a wine merchant and delicatessen with a prized reputation for the quality and diversity of the gourmet produce offered, as does the traditional butcher next door. A number of bakers stock a surprising range of edible creations and the Tarrant Street greengrocer offers a range of organic, local produce as well as crops from around the world. Chocoholics can find handmade delicacies from Belgium and the compulsive
'snacker' can buy ice creams and snacks to go.
We are lucky to have two highly esteemed convenience stores in the Old Town - supplying local residents but of considerable appeal to visitors as well.
As if this was not enough, additionally, the Farmers' Market takes place on the
Third Saturday of each month throughout the year. This recent innovation has been a great success, offering not only the freshest of local produce, but also the spectacle of colourful stalls and varied foodstuffs as an alternative to a trip to the supermarket.
Whatever your interest or needs, you will find a wealth of shopping opportunities in Arundel, all set in the shadow of an historic castle and cathedral. Why not slow down, chill out, relax and enjoy this unique town?
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