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Prince Of Wales Opens The Earl's New Garden At Arundel Castle, West Sussex
By Veronica Cowan
15/05/2008
Image: Photo of Prince Charles and a woman by a grand fountain
Courtesy Arundel Castle
The Prince of Wales was flown by helicopter into the grounds of Arundel Castle in West Sussex on 14 May, to perform the opening ceremony of the new Earl’s Garden.
The project of Georgina, Duchess of Norfolk, the garden is based on a 17th century classical design by Inigo Jones, and was conceived as a light-hearted tribute to Thomas Howard, 14th Earl of Arundel (1585-1646). The Earl was one of the country's first great art collectors.
The 14th Earl died in exile in Padua during the English Civil War and although his body was returned to England, and buried in the Fitzalan Chapel at Arundel, the elaborate tomb he had specified in his will was never erected. This garden, adjoining the church, may now be seen as his memorial.
Courtesy Arundel Castle
The garden’s designers, Julian and Isabel Bannerman, also designed the stumpery at Prince Charles’ home, Highgrove. His Royal Highness switched on the fountain at the new garden.
“Here we have an example of what used to be a car park transformed into something of enormous beauty, attraction and timelessness,” remarked Prince Charles at the opening ceremony.
The two-acre garden is terraced on two levels and contains stone-like structures, fashioned from green oak. It boasts fountains, a rill, a pond, a pergola, a green oak temple and 'Oberon’s Palace', a temple structure lined with shells. The latter contains a Dancing Crown, a gold ducal crown which rises and falls, held in place only by the pressure of the water.
Image: Photo of a long rectangular pond edged with ornate plinths which are reflected in the water
Courtesy Arundel Castle
On a historical note, Edward, Duke of Norfolk, commented that some of his ancestors – the Fitzalan-Howards – had been incarcerated in the Tower of London at the hands of some of the Prince’s ancestors. Prince Charles joked that this made it all the more touching that he had been asked to open the garden.
The Prince also, tongue-in-cheek, referred to several paintings and artefacts which ended up in the Royal Collection, which might have belonged to the Duke’s imprisoned ancestors, but suggested that their ghosts are probably the only ones who could say how the treasures got there. They are now part of the nation’s heritage, he observed.
The garden is open to the public from spring to autumn - see details in venue listing.
Arundel Castle & Gardens
Arundel Castle & Gardens, Arundel, BN18 9AB, West Sussex, England
Open: Arundel Castle is open from Good Friday 21 March to Sunday 2 November 2008 Tuesdays to Sundays inclusive, Bank Holiday Mondays and August Mondays from 10.00 am until 5.00 pm.
Fitzalan Chapel, Gardens & grounds from 10.00 am to 5.00 pm
Castle Keep from 11.00 am to 4.30 pm
Castle Restaurant from 10.30 to 4.30 pm
Castle Shop from 10.30 to 5.00 pm
Castle Rooms 12 noon to 5.00 pm
Bedrooms (Tuesday to Friday) 12 noon to 5.00 pm
Closed: Closed on Mondays. Open on Bank Holiday Mondays and August Mondays
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