For Ruby

[Nikkers]

This is Arundel Castle West Sussex, just 3 miles from my home. It's a beautiful castle and still lived in. It's open to the public from May to September every year. There's lots of history on line for you to see. I have endless pic's of castles, ruins etc which I could send you Ruby if you want to PM me with your email address, I'd be happy to and give you some history too should you want it? XX

[freefaller]

Gorgeous isn't it? We have never visited the castle but often in that area as we have relatives around there.

[sassy59]

Lovely Castle Nikkers and we must visit there sometime soon with our grandson. Have to keep a close eye on him though. Maybe next year.

Hope you are well. xxxx

[Nikkers in reply to sassy59]

I'm not too bad Sassy considering all the hassle lately. Thank you for asking. Hope you get to visit with your Grandson, he'd love it. They stage mock jousting and fayres there from time to time. XX

[Lynda1952]

It looks beautiful. Did go to Arundel once and went in the cathedral but only saw the outside of the castle. Beautiful part of the country to live xx

[Nikkers]

It's a shame that you never managed to go inside Lyn. It's a very beautiful castle and in good repair. Lots to see and very atmospheric. XX

[29h3m]

Lovely Castle Nikkers, My mother was evacuated during the war to Peckforton Castle in Cheshire with other pupils from a school in London. She lived there for 5 years and loved it. The Castle mum said was haunted and she saw ghosts and heard chains rattling ha! I have been on several visits with mum to see Peckforton Castle , never seen any ghosts though ha.

[Nikkers]

Do you know it's history 29? It's not a very old castle like others in our country but interesting all the same:-

THE STORY STARTS IN 1840 WHEN JOHN TOLLEMACHE BOUGHT/INHERITED 36,000 ACRES OF LAND WHICH INCLUDED THE VILLAGES OF PECKFORTON AND BEESTON.

JOHN TOLLEMACH'S DREAM WAS TO BUILD ON THE TOP OF THE PECKFORTON HILLS A FORTIFIED HOME IN THE STYLE OF A MEDIEVAL CASTLE AND TO THIS END WORK COMMENCED IN 1842 BUT THE MAGNITUDE OF THE PROJECT MEANT IT WAS NOT COMPLETED UNTIL 1851.

JOHN TOLLEMACHE BECAME A LORD IN 1876 IN RECOGNITION OF HIS SERVICES TO AGRICULTURE HE BECAME THE FATHER OF 24 SONS (BY HIS TWO MARRIAGES) AND ONE DAUGHTER. ONLY 12 OF HIS SONS SURVIVED HIM. HE DIED IN 1890 AT THE RIPE OLD AGE OF 85

THE LAST MEMBER OF THE TOLLEMACHE FAMILY TO LIVE IN THE CASTLE WAS LORD BENTLEY; HE LEFT PECKFORTON AND TOOK UP RESIDENCE IN EASTBOURNE IN 1939.

DURING WORLD WAR II, PECKFORTON CASTLE WAS USED AS A HOSTEL FOR 200 PHYSICALLY DISABLED CHILDREN EVACUATED FROM THE LONDON AREA.

(This is the part you were referring to, I guess!?)

THE CASTLE REMAINED UNUSED UNTIL 1969.

OVER THE YEARS THE CASTLE HAS BEEN USED BY PRODUCERS AS A LOCATION FOR MAKING MOVIES, FOR TELEVISION AND CINEMA.

NAMELY;

GAWAIN AND THE GREEN KNIGHT

ROBIN HOOD

SHERLOCK HOLMES

DOCTOR WHO

DURING THE 1980S THE NEW TENANTS USED IT FOR A PRIVATE CLUB CALLED 'THE TREASURE TRAP', THE MEMBERS OF WHICH DON MEDIEVAL COSTUMES AND PLAY 'GEORGE AND THE DRAGON' TYPE FANTASY GAMES.

IN 1989 THE CASTLE WAS SOLD AGAIN, BECOMING A VENUE FOR BUSINESS CONFERENCES AND WEDDING RECEPTIONS. BY 2001 ITS HISTORY HAD YET AGAIN BLENDED WITH MODERN TIMES AND WE WERE ONE OF THE GOVERNMENT’S FIRST VENUES TO BE LICENSED FOR CIVIL CEREMONIES HELD BEYOND THE TRADITIONAL REGISTRY OFFICE.

[29h3m in reply to Nikkers]

Thank you for the info, I do know quite a bit about the history and that it is an entertainment venue , have seen the new refurbishment and it looks lovely. At the back of the castle there are mock medieval buildings which are used in tv productions, and if you walk a mile through the woods you come across the ruins of Beeston castle. My mother was one of the disabled children that was evacuated from London and now lives in Chester. Thank you for taking the time in collecting the info, much appreciated. Tina.

[Puffthemagicdragon]

Thanks for that knikkers. I've been trying to post about that particular castle myself but have been having problems.

I'm often a visitor to Arundel and the castle. We went there on one of my daughter's 22nd birthday recently.

I like going further up the road to the boating lake.

[chopsticks in reply to Puffthemagicdragon]

My eldest daughter kept going backwards on that lake, had us all in fits. Chris x

[Puffthemagicdragon]

3 miles. Now you've got me guessing as I know the area reasonably well !

[Nikkers]

I live in Boxgrove Puff. Next time you're here you must pop in for a cuppa! XX

[Puffthemagicdragon in reply to Nikkers]

I'll take you up on that !

I used to live in Selsey and visit my " kids " every few months.

I'm due for my next visit on the 6th September for a week.

Tea and cakes ?

[Nikkers in reply to Puffthemagicdragon]

Anytime Puff. Just let me know when and I'll get the cakes in. Lol.

[Nikkers]

I like Arundel. Such a pretty town, and so much history. I'm actually very distantly related to that lot in the castle, I was thinking of dropping in and saying "Hello" - what do you think? Lol.

[peege]

Oh lovely!

There's a castle near me too Ruby only most of it fell down with neglect. The castle was rebuilt in the Gothic style in Victoria's reign (I think).

The old chapel still stands though & Henry 8th's wife Katherine Parr is buried there.

And guess what? The present occupant is Lady Dent and she's American!!

Look up Sudely Castle in Winchcombe, Gloucestershire 😃

[rubyred777]

Lovely castle Nikkers. Thanks for sharing. I would love to see it. Castles are quite intriguing. You seem to be into them too. Hope all is well with you.

I will PM you later.

Rubyxx 😊 😊

[mmzetor]

my wife and I love going round the Staley homes castles ect we joined the national trust this year . its so interesting see how they lived and all their things . I wonder what some of the old lords would think about the ordinary working class going through their front doors and not using the tradesmans entrance they must be turning in their graves

[Hidden]

Oooh I know Arundel very well... I used to swim in the outdoor pool there, ha ha before my knee went pear shaped!!

I am literally just down the road from you nikkers! ! What a small world!!

[Nikkers in reply to Hidden]

There are quite a few from this site that are close HS. I have met Dozy and her "babies" - nice lady. There is someone in Rustington and quite a few in Brighton, Portsmouth etc., We should have a get together? XX

[Puffthemagicdragon in reply to Nikkers]

Good idea !

[chopsticks]

We used to have a holiday home in Rustington, often went to Arundel, lovely place, there was a pub we used to go to by the river, it was a long time ago, I think it was called The Black Rabbit. Chris x

[Nikkers in reply to chopsticks]

Yes it was called the Black Rabbit Chopsticks - good memory. I don't think it's there anymore, but was such a popular pub/restaurant with great food and as you said, right by the river. XX