Arundel Castle and Mary Queen of Scots

A few years ago Diane and I enjoyed a wonderful two-week vacation in the UK, followed by a trans-Atlantic cruise back home to Florida. Other than a few days in London, we spent most of those two weeks in the south of England. We established our HQ in the Hampshire village of Chawton, and from there roamed about the countryside from Kent to Somerset. 

Arundel Castle from the Gardens

On one of those day trips we visited Arundel Castle in West Sussex. (If you like, you can read the 2013 blog entry describing our visit there: Across the South.) The castle, which dates back to 1067, the year following William's Norman conquest, has been a home for the Duke of Norfolk for quite some time, about 400 years. The Duke also holds the title of Earl of Arundel and is apparently the top dog among the English peers. The current Duke, Edward Fitzalan-Howard, is the 18th Duke of Norfolk and like his ancestors has managed to keep the Catholic faith. One of those ancestors, Thomas Howard, the fourth Duke, was executed in 1572 by Elizabeth for being a bit too friendly with Elizabeth's cousin, Mary, Queen of Scots. With a family history littered with such events, you have to hand it to the Fitzalan-Howards for persevering in the faith.

The Duke and his predecessors have actually done a wonderful job of restoration and maintenance of the castle and its grounds. Diane and I were truly impressed and enjoyed our visit. Of course we took the tour, which included everything from the ancient Keep to the lovely Fitzalan Chapel. We were even permitted to view a few of the bedrooms in which some very important people have occasionally slept. The castle also houses a nice gift shop and a restaurant where one can grab a quick bite. 

With COVID waning, Arundel Castle is once again open for visitors. Sadly, though, some recent visitors came for more than the tour. They came to steal, and their theivery resulted in the loss of some priceless objects. One of these is the gold Rosary that Mary, Queen of Scots, held in her hand as she was executed at Fotheringhay Castle in 1587.

Mary, Holding Her Rosary at Her Execution

Other items stolen include coronation cups, also gold. This leads some to believe the thieves chose these items for their gold value and not for their historical significance. How very sad if these priceless artifacts are simply melted down for their metal value. Of course, the thieves' only alternative is to sell them on the black market to collectors who really aren't all that concerned about how they were obtained. Perhaps some good soul knows something and will lead to the recovery of the items. But as my mother used to say, "They're only things, so don't get too attached to them."

If you're interested, you can read about the theft here: Theft at Arundel Castle

I expect the castle's security has been raised a level or two, but I would still recommend a visit. Oh, yes, don't neglect the garden tour, especially when all is in bloom. And the town of Arundel is also quite nice. As I recall we had an excellent meal at one of the downtown pubs and enjoyed shopping at a local bookstore. All in all, a delightful day. We came away with some nice items, all paid for in the castle gift shop.