How long did Arundel castle take to build?
. The first castle built at Arundel was one of these fortresses, it guarded the River Arun in the South Downs as well as Englands southern coast. Built in 1068, it was of motte and bailey design and “is still clearly visible to this day”. The motte is 100 feet high and is surrounded by two baileys. Todays buildings are built on the original 12th century foundations. The Norman gatehouse (c.1070), motte, keep, and curtain wall are laid out in a plan very similar to that of Windsor Castle and are very well, and in some cases, extremely well preserved. “The original timbers were gradually replaced with stone, starting first with the curtain wall and gatehouse, which still survive with its original rectangular portcullis groove.” At the castle entrance is a wooden drawbridge, a barbican, and gatehouse. The barbican was built in 1295. “It is in fine repair, with two portcullises. The barbican was indeed a sturdy structure, for the impressions of cannon balls which bombarded the castle durin
