Manor Profile
Arundel, West Sussex· Arundel Hundred· 1067 – 1995
Also known as: Honour of Arundel, Rape of Arundel, Castle of Arundel
Arundel is the caput of the rape of Arundel, one of the six great divisions of Sussex created after the Norman Conquest. The castle stands on a natural hill above the river Arun, commanding the gap through the South Downs.
Roger de Montgomery received the rape c.1067 and built the castle, raising the great motte. His son Hugh succeeded in 1094 but died in 1098. Hugh's elder brother Robert of Belleme forfeited the rape in 1102 for rebellion against Henry I. The Crown held the rape until 1135, when Queen Adeliza (Henry I's widow) received it as dower. Her second husband William d'Aubigny became earl and was confirmed by Henry II c.1155.
The d'Aubigny earls held the rape through four generations: William II (1176-93), William III (1193-1221), William IV (1221-24), and Hugh (1224-43). Hugh died in 1243 without male issue and the rape passed to his nephew John FitzAlan.
The FitzAlan family held the rape for over 150 years. Richard FitzAlan was created Earl of Arundel in 1289. Edmund FitzAlan was executed and attainted in 1326 but his son Richard was restored in 1331. Richard FitzAlan III (d. 1397) was executed for treason. Thomas FitzAlan was restored in 1399 but died without issue in 1415. The rape then passed through the d'Arundel and FitzAlan families: John d'Arundel (1415-21), John d'Arundel "the English Achilles" (1421-35), Humphrey (1435-38, died as minor), and William FitzAlan (1438-87).
Henry FitzAlan (d. 1580) was the last FitzAlan earl. Through his daughter Mary the earldom passed to Philip Howard, whose Catholic faith led to imprisonment and attainder in 1589. Philip died in the Tower in 1595. His son Thomas Howard was restored to the honours in 1604 and created Earl of Norfolk in 1644. Thomas Howard, "the Collector Earl," was England's greatest art connoisseur of the age but died in exile in Padua in 1646.
The Howard dukes of Norfolk held the rape and castle thereafter: Henry Frederick (1646-52), Thomas (1652-77, a lunatic from 1653, restored to dukedom 1660), Henry (1677-84), Henry II (1684-1701), Thomas II (d. 1732), Edward (1732-77, a former Jacobite), Charles (d. 1786), and Charles II (1786-1815). Duke Charles II began the expansion of the reduced Sussex estates, which reached nearly 20,000 acres by 1873.
Bernard Edward Howard (1815-42), Henry Charles (d. 1856), Henry Granville Fitzalan-Howard (d. 1860), Henry Fitzalan-Howard (d. 1917), and Bernard Marmaduke Fitzalan-Howard (d. 1975) continued the line. Miles Francis Fitzalan-Howard, 17th Duke of Norfolk, succeeded in 1975. The 1957 Act broke the 1627 entail, enabling division of the estates. The Arundel estate was settled on the Duke's eldest son Lord Arundel. The Norfolk dukedom is the premier dukedom of England and remains an active peerage.
Arundel was a borough by 1086 with at least 4 burgages and 13 haws (urban properties attached to rural estates). The castle was built by Roger de Montgomery c.1067-68 on a natural hill above the river Arun. In 1086 Earl Roger held the entire rape of Arundel comprising 83 manors. The borough itself was valued at 27 pounds in 1086, up from 4 pounds TRE. One mill and one fishery recorded. The Phillimore reference is Sussex 11,2.
| # | Name | From | To | Acquired | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Roger de Montgomery, Earl of Shrewsbury(Earl of Shrewsbury) | 1067 | 1094 | grant from William I | Built the castle c.1067-68. Received the entire rape comprising 83 manors. Called "first earl of Arundel" by some sources. |
| 2 | Hugh de Montgomery(Earl of Shrewsbury) | 1094 | 1098 | inheritance | |
| 3 | Robert of Belleme(Earl of Shrewsbury) | 1098 | 1102 | inheritance (elder brother) | |
| 4 | The Crown | 1102 | 1135 | forfeiture | Held by the king after Robert's forfeiture. |
| 5 | Queen Adeliza (widow of Henry I) | 1135 | dower | Henry I's widow. Married William d'Aubigny. | |
| 6 | William d'Aubigny I(Earl of Arundel) | 1139 | 1176 | marriage to Queen Adeliza | Married Adeliza c.1139, became earl. Confirmed by Henry II c.1155. |
| 7 | William d'Aubigny II(Earl of Arundel) | 1176 | 1193 | inheritance | Crown retained rape until 1190, then returned by Richard I. |
| 8 | William d'Aubigny III(Earl of Arundel) | 1193 | 1221 | inheritance | A favourite of King John. |
| 9 | William d'Aubigny IV(Earl of Arundel) | 1221 | 1224 | inheritance | |
| 10 | Hugh d'Aubigny(Earl of Arundel) | 1224 | 1243 | inheritance (brother) | Wardship keepers: Hubert de Burgh (1227), Peter de Rivaux (1232-33). |
The Crown
The rape of Arundel was one of the six great rapes of Sussex, held directly of the Crown. The holder of the rape owed knight service and was responsible for the castle. The rape comprised 83 manors in 1086.
Source: VCH Sussex Vol. 5 pt 1, pp. 1-6
Arundel Priory (cell of Seez Abbey)
priory · priory within borough · 1086 – 1380
The priory was a cell of the Norman abbey of St Martin at Seez, established by Roger de Montgomery. It held the advowson of Arundel parish church and estates including the rectory of Yapton. Suppressed when its endowments were transferred to the newly-founded Arundel College in 1380.
Arundel College (Holy Trinity)
college · collegiate church within castle · 1380 – 1544
Founded by Richard FitzAlan, Earl of Arundel, in 1380 using the endowments of the suppressed Arundel Priory. In 1423, further manors (South Stoke, Warningcamp, Angmering and others) were alienated to the college. Surrendered to Henry FitzAlan, Earl of Arundel, in December 1544.
Fitzalan Chapel
chapel · private chapel of the duke · 1390
The east end of the parish church of St Nicholas, separated by a wall from the nave. Contains the tombs of multiple FitzAlan earls and Howard dukes. Remains in the private ownership of the Duke of Norfolk.
Maison Dieu (Hospital of the Holy Trinity)
hospital · hospital within borough · 1395
Founded c.1395 by Richard FitzAlan, Earl of Arundel. Survives as a ruin near the river.
Arundel Castle is one of the great medieval fortresses of England, seat of the Dukes of Norfolk. The motte was raised c.1067-68 by Roger de Montgomery, over 100 feet high from the dry moat. The stone shell keep on the motte was built by William d'Aubigny in the mid-12th century. The barbican and gatehouse date from the 13th century. Much of the castle was slighted during the Civil War (1643-44) and lay partly ruinous until the 8th Duke began restoration in the 1780s. The 15th Duke of Norfolk commissioned a major Gothic Revival rebuilding (1875-1900) by C.A. Buckler, including the Barons' Hall, the chapel, and the library. The Fitzalan Chapel (late 14th century) contains the tombs of multiple earls of Arundel and dukes of Norfolk. The castle grounds include the park, extending south to Swanbourne Lake. The medieval town walls survive in fragmentary form. The Maison Dieu (hospital, founded c.1395 by Richard FitzAlan, Earl of Arundel) survives as a ruin near the river. The castle remains in private ownership of the Duke of Norfolk and is open to visitors.
Phillimore reference Sussex 11,2. Borough with 4 burgesses and 13 haws. 1 mill, 1 fishery. Value 27 pounds (1086), 4 pounds (1066).
Full parish entry covering Arundel borough, castle, churches, social and economic history. The rape introduction (pp. 1-6) provides the lordship descent of the rape/honour.
VCH Closing Statement
“Miles Francis Fitzalan-Howard, 17th Duke of Norfolk, succeeded as holder of the Arundel estate and castle in 1975. Under the 1957 Act the 1627 entail was broken, enabling division of the estates: the Arundel estate was settled on the Duke's eldest son Lord Arundel, including Park farm, Arundel park, Burpham, and North and South Stoke.”
VCH Sussex, Vol. 5 pt 1, pp. 1-6, 10-101
