Overview
Arundel Castle is one of the great Norman castles of southern England and began as a motte-and-bailey stronghold soon after the Norman Conquest. It was established by Roger de Montgomery, Earl of Arundel, one of the powerful Norman nobles rewarded with lands after William the Conqueror’s victory in 1066. The castle stands above the River Arun in West Sussex, giving it a strong defensive position and clear control over movement through the surrounding landscape.
The earliest phase of Arundel Castle followed the typical Norman pattern. A large artificial motte was raised above a dry moat, with a timber defensive structure on top. Below the mound, the bailey provided space for soldiers, servants, animals, and storage. The motte remains one of the oldest and most important features of the castle, and its height helped make the site difficult to attack.
By the late 11th and early 12th centuries, Arundel Castle began to develop beyond its original timber form. A gatehouse was added, and later a stone shell keep was built on the motte. These changes reflected the wider medieval shift from temporary timber defenses to more durable stone fortifications. Over time, the castle expanded into a major noble residence while still retaining its defensive character.
Arundel Castle became the seat of the Earls of Arundel and later the Dukes of Norfolk. Its history includes periods of conflict, damage, restoration, and rebuilding. Like many long-lived medieval castles, it changed repeatedly as military needs, noble status, and architectural taste evolved.
Today, Arundel Castle remains standing and is still associated with the Duke of Norfolk. Its surviving motte, stone keep, gatehouse, walls, and dramatic setting make it one of the clearest examples of a Norman motte-and-bailey castle that grew into a major medieval residence. It is also helpful for explaining how an early military site could remain important for centuries by adapting to new defensive, residential, and ceremonial uses.