41A High Street, Arundel, Sussex, England

ARUNDEL by Tim Lambert
Early Arundel
Arundel began as a Saxon village. It has been suggested that its name is derived from the Norman-French word for swallow, Arondel. A more likely explanation is that is a corruption of Saxon words harhune dell meaning horehound (a type of plant) valley.
At any rate by the time of the Domesday Book in 1086 Arundel had become a flourishing market town. However it would seem tiny to us. It only had a population of a few hundred but towns were very small in those days.
About 1067-68 Arundel Castle was built by the Norman Lord, Roger de Montgomery. At first it was of wood but later Arundel castle was rebuilt in stone. The castle was meant to guard the town and also to make sure the citizens of Arundel behaved themselves!
However Roger's son Hugh rebelled against the king. In 1102 Henry I laid siege to Arundel Castle. It took three months to capture it.
When Henry I died in 1135 civil war began between his daughter Matilda and Stephen. In 1139 Matilda stayed in Arundel castle. In 1243 Arundel Castle came to be owned by the Fitzalan family. At the end of the 16th century it passed to the Dukes of Norfolk. The Dukes dominated Arundel for centuries.
At that time Arundel was a busy little port. Ships sailed to and from Arundel along the river Arun to the sea 5 miles away.
Arundel was also an important market town for the area. In 1285 Arundel was also granted an annual fair. In the Middle Ages fairs were like markets but they were held only once a year. The Arundel fair attracted buyers and sellers from a wide area.
In the mid 13th century Dominican friars came to Arundel. The friars were like monks but instead of withdrawing from the world they went out to preach. Dominican friars were called black friars because of the colour of their costumes. The parish church of St Nicholas in Arundel was built in the late 14th century.
During the English Civil War Arundel Castle changed hands three times. First in December 1642 a small force of parliamentary soldiers easily captured the castle. However in December 1643 the royalists recaptured Arundel castle after a short siege. However parliamentary troops soon arrived and laid siege again. The royalist defenders surrendered the castle on 6 January 1644.
Following the civil war Arundel Castle lay in ruins until the end of the 18th century when it was rebuilt.