The Ghosts of Arundel Castle

Arundel Castle, the ancestral seat of the Duke of Norfolk, has dominated the West Sussex landscape for nearly a thousand years. With its Norman keep, Gothic towers, and Victorian state rooms, it’s one of England’s finest castles – and one of its most haunted. The Blue Man reads in the library. A young girl runs eternally toward the tower. Phantom cannon fire echoes through the halls. And when a white bird appears, it signifies death for someone in the Duke’s family.

The Castle’s History

Norman Origins

Around 1067, Roger de Montgomery, one of William the Conqueror’s lords, began construction of Arundel Castle. The keep, dating back to 1138, survives to this day, and the castle has been continuously occupied ever since, representing nearly 1,000 years of history.

The Fitzalan-Howards

The current family, the Dukes of Norfolk, have owned Arundel since 1138. They are England’s premier Catholic family, and their ghostly presence remains within the castle walls through war and intrigue.

The Restorations

During the Victorian era, massive rebuilding took place, resulting in a Gothic Revival style castle, which is the one we see today. However, older spirits weren’t displaced and remain alongside the newer apparitions.

The Blue Man

The Library Ghost

The most famous spirit is a man dressed entirely in blue, seen in the library, reading or browsing books. First sighted in 1630, he continues to appear today.

His Appearance

Witnesses describe him as wearing Cavalier-era clothing, a blue doublet and breeches, and often sitting at tables, handling books, before fading away.

His Identity

He is possibly a former resident, a scholar or priest, or someone who loved the library, his attachment keeping him there for nearly 400 years.

The Girl in the Tower

The Running Figure

In the corridors, a young woman runs fleeing toward the Hiorne Tower. In Tudor or medieval dress, she appears desperate and frightened, then vanishes.

Her Story

Legend says she was fleeing someone, perhaps a cruel guardian, and threw herself from the tower rather than face her fate. Her running never stops.

The Sightings

She has been seen by servants over centuries, by visitors, and by family members, always running and never reaching safety.

The White Bird

The Death Omen

A family tradition dictates that a white owl appears before a death in the family, at windows or flying through halls – an unmistakable sign.

The History

For centuries, this omen has appeared, preceding family deaths, and has been taken seriously by the Howards, not dismissed as superstition, due to its accuracy.

The Meaning

It may be a warning, a comfort, a messenger from beyond, or part of the family’s strange heritage, as the bird knows death is coming.

Other Phenomena

Cannon Fire

Throughout the castle, the boom of cannons is heard, phantom sounds from Civil War perhaps, as the castle was besieged in 1643; the battle continues.

The Kitchen Ghost

In the servants’ areas, a rattling presence is felt, with pots and pans disturbed, possibly by a servant who loved her work, continuing her duties for eternity.

The Dungeon Voices

In the oldest areas, whispers and murmurs, cries from darkness, are heard - prisoners were kept here, and some never left, their voices remaining.

Cold Spots

Throughout the castle, sudden temperature drops are experienced, in specific locations such as the library, the tower stairs, and the Great Hall.

The Living Castle

Still Occupied

Unlike many castles, Arundel is still home, occupied by the Duke of Norfolk, who lives here part of the year, sharing space with ghosts as his family has for centuries.

Family Experiences

The Howards report accepting the spirits, living with presences; the white bird is a fact to them, the Blue Man is a neighbor, and they are all family.

The Staff

Employees have their own encounters, avoiding certain areas, and accept them as normal, part of working at Arundel; the ghosts cause no harm.

Investigations

Research

Paranormal teams have found significant activity, photographic evidence, temperature anomalies, EVP recordings, and the castle is very active.

The Challenges

Investigating Arundel presents challenges, as the building is a living one, occupied and working, but activity undeniable, the evidence accumulates over centuries.

Documentary Evidence

Historical records confirm the first Blue Man sighting: 1630; written accounts over centuries have consistently described the apparitions, providing reliable witnesses and not imagination.

Visiting Arundel

The Experience

The castle offers stunning architecture, art and furnishings, beautiful grounds, and an atmosphere; you might see something.

The Feeling

Visitors report being watched, particularly in the library, on the tower stairs, and in certain corridors, sensing something aware of them.

Ghost Tours

Occasionally, special events are offered, providing after-hours access with expert guidance, not for the nervous; activity is real.

The Question

For nearly a thousand years, Arundel Castle has stood guard over Sussex. Kings have visited. Wars have been fought. Generations have lived and died. And some have never left. The Blue Man reads in the library where he’s been reading since 1630. What book could hold his attention for 400 years? What knowledge does he seek? The girl still runs toward the tower. Who chased her? What was she fleeing? She never tells us. She just runs. And when the white bird appears, someone will die. It has always been so. The Howards know. They watch for it. They’ve learned to accept what it means. Arundel Castle. Still a family home after nearly a millennium. The family has grown to include ghosts. The Blue Man in his chair. The running girl. The sounds of long-ago cannon fire. They’re all part of Arundel now. The living and the dead. Sharing one of England’s greatest castles. Waiting for the next chapter in a story that’s been unfolding for a thousand years. And may unfold for a thousand more. With the same ghosts. Watching. Reading. Running. Forever.

Sources

• Wikipedia search: “The Ghosts of Arundel Castle”
• Historic England — Listed Buildings — Register of historic sites