Arundel Castle

Arundel
West Sussex
BN18 9AB

History

The oldest part of the castle is the motte which was constructed in 1068 and was followed by the gatehouse in 1070. King Henry settled the Castle and his second wife, Adeliza of Louvain, remained there. After his death she remarried a William d’Albini II who built the stone keep. In 1155 King Henry II confirmed William as Earl of Arundel with the honour of the Castle.

After the d’Albinis the castle became the home of the Fitzalans through female heiresses in the 13th Century and then to the Howards in the 16th Century who were at the forefront of the Wars of the Roses through to Tudor period and then the Civil War and was the seat of the Dukes of Norfolk for over 850 years including the uncle of Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard.

Paranormal Activity

It is often said that Arundel Castle is home to just four ghosts but there are more ghostly goings on between its ancient walls than first meets the visitor.

The spirit of the first Earl of Arundel, who originally built the castle, is said to still haunt the Castle’s Keep. Another spirit is said to be of a young woman who, stricken with grief from a tragic love affair, took her own life by jumping to her death from one of the towers. Seen by some, she is said to still haunt the castle on moonlit nights dressed in white.

Another spirit is that of a ‘Blue Man’ who has been seen within the library since the 1630s and it is thought that he could be a Cavalier due to his time period seeming to be from King Charles II’s reign.

Another notable ‘spirit’ is that strangely of a white owl like bird. Legend tells that if the white bird is seen fluttering in one of the windows, it is an imminent warning of a death of a Castle resident or someone closely associated. It’s interesting to note here that Dukes used to keep a colony of white American Owls here at the castle before its restoration.

There is also mention of a servant lad who once lived at the castle who was treated very badly until beaten to his death. He is said to now haunt the kitchen area and has been seen scrubbing pots and pans.

Another strange sighting was more recent in 1958 by a footman. Working late one night on the ground floor the footman was walking near the servant’s quarters and saw what he thought to be a man walking in front of him when he thought he had been alone. As he got closer to the apparition the man faded and then was gone.

Bolebroke Castle

Edenbridge Road
Hartfield
East Sussex
TN7 4JJ

History

This castle was once owned by the Earls and Dukes of Dorset and has one of the finest Elizabethan staircases in existence along with original beamed ceilings, wood paneling and 16th Century furniture.

Paranormal Activity

Much activity has been reported over the years from unexplained tapings, cries of laughter and moans of sadness. The ghost of a woman in nun’s clothing has been seen searching for what is believed to be her lover who died on the staircase. A headless woman has been seen in the Great Hall who some believe could be Ann Boleyn herself who used to frequent the castle during her time with Henry VIII.

Pevensey Castle

East Sussex
BN24 5LE
01323 762604

History

During the 4th Century this castle was one of last and strongest of the Roman ‘Saxon Shore’ forts and was used as a landing place for William the Conqueror’s army in 1066. The fort was converted into a full-scale Normal castle during the years after and a stone keep and towered bailey wall was added. Later a gatehouse was added and the castle was strengthened and modernised to face the threat of the Armada in 1588. World War II saw it house pillboxes and machine gun posts cunningly camouflaged among its ancient walls.

Paranormal Activity

A lady walks this castle who is believed to be the wife of Sir John Pelham who policed the castle in the 14th Century. While her husband was away she devoted herself to defending the castle and helping overthrow the throne of Richard I. She succeeded until her husbands return.