Roger de Montgomery who fought alongside Duke William at Hastings and so he was to be richly rewarded for his loyal services. Duke William bestowed upon him the Earldoms of Shrewsbury and Arundel.His ghost is said to haunt the magnificent keep at Arundel

Earl Roger de Montgomery founded the first castle at Arundel on Christmas Day 1067.
The Earthworks at Arundel were begun in 1068

1555 Mary Fitzalan, last of the family, married Thomas, 4th Duke of Norfolk, thereby carrying Arundel into the Howard family where it remains to this day.

Arundel Castle is the ancestral home of the senior branch of the Howard family, the Dukes of Norfolk.
The Norfolks are Premier Dukes and Hereditary Earls Marshal of England. The Howards are a large and distinguished clan, with many peerages between them, and with Royal connections.

Of the Howard family one member earns a mention in particular. Thomas, 3rd Duke of Norfolk played in the dangerous politics of Henry VIII's Court. To increase his influence at Court he managed to marry off two of his nieces to Henry. Ann Boleyn, his 2nd wife and Katherine Howard his 5th wife. Both were exploited by their uncle and both met their ends on the block. Thomas did nothing to stop their beheading for fear of Henry. The Duke survived to die naturally, only because Henry VIII died before the Duke's own planned execution could take place.

The Castle was badly besieged twice and slighted in the Civil War, but it was restored and the domestic ranges reconstructed in the 18th. and 19th. Centuries. The rooms contain a fine collection of English and continental furniture, magnificent family portraits including 6 by Van Dyck and an important 18th century library. The Castle has been open to the public since the late 18th century,

Queen Victoria stayed here in 1846 (you can still see her bed)

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