Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk - Arundel Castle is one of the oldest castles in England, first built in December 1067

Thomas Howard last to own the Castle

Arundel Castle is one of the oldest castles in England, first built in December 1067—barely a year after the Norman conquest.[4] It is also remarkable for being passed down through generations almost directly for nearly 1,000 years. It was owned for long periods by the Aubigny family from 1139 to 1243, occasionally reverting back to the crown. In 1243, it passed to the FitzAlans after the final Aubigny heir, a woman, married into the family. The FitzAlans held it until 1580, when Mary FitzAlan married Thomas Howard. The Howards have held the castle ever since, but it didn’t become their main residence until the 1780s.Arundel has been continually upgraded since it was first built in 1067, so much of the castle we see today is much more modern than that. The majority of the building—including the Gothic front which gives it its fairytale appearance—was built during the Victorian era. It was one of the first buildings in England to be fitted with electricity, central heating, and service lifts. Much like Alnwick castle, Arundel has an extensive archive featuring documents going back to the 1200s, though it is only open to professional academics.