Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-11-25
PICTURESQUE ARUNDEL.
The Duke OF NorfoIks Historic Castle and
lis Interesting Surroundings.
MAINE.


Oct. 30. 1897
In the spring OF this year | spent six
weeks at Littlehampton. a small. quiet
sea side resort on the south coast and
during that time | thoroughly explored
the surrounding country on my bicycle
My favorite ride was to the pretty little
town of Arundel, about four miles dis
tant. This town, one of the most pic
turesque in Sussex. is situated on the
river Arun from which the town gets its
name The Arun is navigable as far as
this point but the trade of the port once
very considerable, is now next to moth
ing.
On entering the town the first thing one
sees are the towers and battlements of
Arundel castle. standing high above on
the hill and half hidden among the trees
This is the principal seat of the Duke of
Norfolk who also owns a great deal of
the country round. The castle was
founded by Alfred the Great but has been
so altered and restored by the success
sive dukes that the present building is
practically modern and one can form but
faint idea of the original structure One
of the dukes about a century ago had Il
turn for architecture, and most of the
present buiidinS is the result OF his hob
by. The castle occupies a position over
looking the town of Arundel and the
Fat,rt Of the Arun. 1t was quite i'm
pregnable in olden times as il is precip-
itous on the siue by the Arun, and pro-
tected by deep fosse on the other. The
walls of the castle, are thirty feet high
in the oldest part and are from six to
twelve feet thick. The most interesting
part of the castle which is also the
most ancient is the Norman Keep which
stands on mound one hundred feet high.
This keep formed part of the original
building which was besieged by King
Stephen in 1879. A gateway with a
square tower on either side leads TO the
keep. In one of these towers are the
dungeons in which prisoners We're con-
fined Part of old well tower is still to
be seen and the well is said 10 have
been over three hundred feet deep. Near
the tower Is the ruin of an ancient ora
tory. During the Civil wars in the reign
of Charles |. Arundel castle was held
by the Roundheads from whom it was
taken by the Royalists under Lord Hop
ton, only to be recaptured a few days
later by the RoundheadS commanded by
Waller. At present the castle is again in
the hands of builders. and is not shown
to visitors without special permission
from the duke. The Keep is open to the
public on Mondays and Fridays. Arun-
del Park surrounding the castle. is open
at all times free of charge. AT one point
the park rises to an elevation of about
four hundred feet. from which on a clear
day-a beautiful view is to be had over
the downs and the sea can just be seen
shining in the distance. The park is
three miles long from end to end and
about seven in circuit. 1t is especially
noted for it's fine timber and its immense
number of deer which can be seen ev-
erywhere browsing. Some of the heauti-
full creatures are quite tame and will al
low one to go quite close to them
The other lions of Arundel are it's two
churches: St. Nicholas. which stands al
most in the shade of the Roman Catho-
lie church of ST. Philip Neri. built by the
present duke who is well known as the
most Jealous English member of the Ro-
man Catholic church. St Nicholas
church is an ancient one. but was nearly
destroyed by Walters soldiers who were
quartered there in 1913. In 1894 Roger de
Montgomery founded Benedictine
Priory here the site of the church was
in the fourteenth century. turned into
a college by F'itZ Agan. Earl of Arun-
church intending to connect it with his
new college. The original high altar is
preserved in the church; it is said to be
the only one in England which escaped
destruction at the Reformation. Beyond
ST. Nicholas church. the college chapel
still stands. and near 1t the lady chapel
which. however, are the private proper
ty of the Duke of Norfolk and can only
be visited by special permission from his
lordship.
About two miles from Arundel on the
bank of the river. is very pretty old
fashioned liI.Ae inn called the Black Rab-
bit. where one can have tea out of doors
under the trees. The inn STANDS just be-
low deep cutting in the wooded side of
the park and it is altogether a most pic
turesque spot. Arundel and it's neigh
borhood is paradise for artists and one
is always coming across them there. The
Black Rabbit is a great rendezvous for
coaching parties which come from
Worthing and other fashionable sea side
places on the coast: and cyclists flock to
it in great numbers.
IDA MAY COUSINS.