Arundel Castle Page

he effectiveness of a castle was directly related to its placement in a region. In Britain, castles were built in a variety of locations, all strategically chosen for their defensive impact as well as their political impact on the local populace. Castles were meant to intimidate as well as protect its inhabitants. They were showcases of an individual's power, prestige and authority as well as potent indicators of the indigenous population's degradation and subjugation. Of course, there were exceptions to this general rule, as in Wales, where native castles were most often built for the protection of the local populace as well as its inhabitants. The Welsh prince was usually seen as a man of the people rather than a conqueror. However, the castle-building movement in Britain was initiated by men who indeed had conquered the land and its peoples. The Normans were interlopers who sought to control the populations in England, Wales and Scotland. Castles were their most effective mechanism for accomplishing that subjugation, although certain regions of Britain were to remain rebellious throughout the many centuries after the Conquest in 1066.
	he Normans recognized the necessity for safeguarding their coastline from further invasion, and many of their first castles were constructed at strategic points which overlooked the sea and acted as critical observation and early warning sites. One such site was on the southern coast of England, at Arundel, where the Normans built a motte castle with two baileys to defend against attack from the Continent. Over the centuries, the motte castle was reinforced by sturdier stone structures and today Arundel Castle reflects the impact of many individuals on the site. It is an enormously masterful product that still retains its Norman origins while incorporating more modern architectural styles into a cohesive whole. or many centuries the castle has been the home of the Dukes of Norfolk, who still reside in that more modern sector and who have maintained their ancestral home in a state fit for a king.
rundel Castle is surrounded by lush green carpets of parkland, acres of which entice us and lead us onward with excited anticipation. The first glimpse of the grand pile is of the more modern facade, a tall tower which was restored by the 15th Duke of Norfolk in the late 19th century. Alongside this tower is a solidly constructed curtain which draws us further along toward the castle's main entry point. It is at this entrance that we find most of the oldest remnants of the castle, still in outstanding condition.
	he first castle at Arundel, the motte and bailey fortress, is still clearly visible to this day. The great motte rises some 70 feet into the air, and stands between the two baileys, known as the Quadrangle (surrounded by the state apartments and the Norfolk residences) and the Tiltyard (not normally open to the public). Access to the massive Norman fortification is through two defensive structures, a barbican and a gatehouse. The barbican sits just inside the castle ditch, and was built about 1295 by the Norman Richard Fitzalan. It is in fine repair, with two square sandstone and flint towers and a passageway protected with two portcullises. The barbican was indeed a sturdy structure, for the impressions of cannon balls which bombarded the castle during the English Civil War still mark the walls! Just behind the barbican is the older gatehouse, dating to the initial Norman building period at the castle. This structure was rather simple in design, which explains the need for the barbican, built some 200 years later. The gatehouse consists of a single rectangular tower topped with observation turrets (added slightly later). It is an excellent example of the early Norman gateway.
mmediately after passing through the gatehouse, you will encounter the formidable motte. This motte is remarkably well- preserved and gives us an outstanding impression of what the original Norman fortification would have looked like in the 11th century. The earthen mound's basal diameter is 250 feet, quite enormous by most standards. It would have risen high enough to provide a clear view of the surrounding landscape, as well as the sea-coast. In fact, the sea is still visible from the battlements of the shell keep which crowns the motte.
he shell keep is another outstanding example of Norman architecture in England. Basically a masonry ring around the top of the motte, the keep rose an additional 30 feet above the motte and was built with 10 foot thick stone walling. It is still approached by a series of steps which climb the side of the motte, and structural relics include a large doorway, fireplaces, a basement storeroom, stairs to the battlements and a wall-walk. Norman decorative features include zigzags and scrollwork designs. The combined visual impact of the motte and its stone crown instills a strong sense of admiration for the Normans, who erected these seemingly timeless earth and stone marvels with their relatively crude technology.