Arundel Castle

I have been really bad and lazy keeping this up to date. So here goes.

On the second day of our holiday we went to Arundel caste on the way down to our first stop on Hayling Island, near Portsmouth. 

I have been wanting to go here for a long time - it is amazing. It is still lived in - the Earl is the highest member of the Queen's household and the one who organises royal funerals and coronations.

It was a medical castle and is still, thanks to renovations, largely complete.

The drive was a nightmare thanks to torrential rain and I think I ran at least one red light accidentally in the chaos.

But we all made it alive. Though shaky.

Arundel castle.

This castle has 2 different sections, the medieval part and the newer chambers.

In the medical part you have where King Stephen has besieged by Empress Matilda (he had stolen her throne). And it was a hold out for the royalist army during the civil war.

The portcullis.

The tower.

They are still doing up parts of the medical tower. But the view from the top was great. (Thankfully it had stopped raining at this point though we missed the gardens when it started again.)

Inside the tower.

From the top

The newer section

We were very impressed with the armoury.

They have their own church. Obviously.

That is a ceiling

A sledge.

There was one part I nerded out over. They have the rosary Mary Queen of Scots held when she was beheaded. She was Queen Elizabeth I's cousin and a pretty tragic figure. She was killed mainly because she had a claim to the throne and she was catholic. Though her son ended up getting the throne so in the long run she kind of won.

The rosary.

Family dining room table

Queen Elizabeth II bedroom when she visited. 

Blue sky!

So many paintings everywhere. 

And they had an amazing library. I want one!

The death warrant.

I highly recommend visiting if you have a chance. It is one of the best castles I have ever been too. So full of history and so complete.