Visitors to beautiful Arundel Castle will be able to experience and enjoy a taste of life in the past thanks to a programme of special events planned for 2007, including jousting, historical re-enactments, historical storytelling and a chance to have a go at archery and fencing.

Easter sees the hosting of a medieval tournament throughout the day in the castle grounds on Sunday 8 and Monday 9 April. Raven Tor, the award-winning living history group, will be presenting weapons and combat tournaments and a tented encampment with demonstrations of armour making, cooking, weaving, leatherwork, fletching, and medicine. There’s also an opportunity for visitors to have a go at archery.

The jousting tournamentsand living history re-enactments return on Sunday 27 and Monday 28 May, and again on Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 August, when the jousting on both weekends is performed by Destrier, who are renowned for their attention to period detail, and the tournament will include exciting hunting games, skill-at-arms and arming of the knights, as well as the jousting itself. Visitors to the event can talk to members of the company to find out more about medieval life and meet the knights and their horses, while award-winning re-enactment group Raven Tor will be in character presenting weapons and combat tournaments and a tented encampment, offering a fascinating insight into all aspects of daily life in the 15th century.

History moves forward two centuries in July as Raven Tor join with Rawdon’s Regiment from the Sealed Knot Society on Sunday 22 July,for a full re-enactment of an English Civil War Siege. As well as the excitement of the battle itself, visitors can also see demonstrations of skills from the time such as cooking, weaponry and weaving.

For those who want a hands-on experience, two activity days in August, on Thursday 16th and Tuesday 21st, allow castle visitors to try out traditional crafts and skills such as fencing and archery.

A step back in time to the origins of Arundel Castle itself occurs on Sunday 9 September, and again on Thursday 25 October, when Normans take over the 11th century keep, which is the oldest part of the much-extended castle. These events will be an opportunity to learn about life in England under William the Conqueror.

The season rounds off with Tudors in the Castle on Thursday 25 October, ending an exciting year’s programme of insights into living history.

For green-fingered visitors, Arundel Castle’s Garden Tours with either Head Gardener Gerry Kelsey or Deputy Head Gardener Isobel McKinley should prove of particular interest. The tours will be held on Friday 18 May, Friday 29 June, Friday 27 July and Friday 28 September and visitors will be shown, amongst other things, the walled kitchen garden with its restored peach and vine houses, the tender exotic Mediterranean species in the flower garden, the central long borders in cool colours crossed by hot-coloured borders, the white-themed Fitzalan Chapel gardens and the newer contemporary-styled rose garden as well as several ancient trees of particular note.

The garden tours, which are by advance booking only, prove popular and numbers are restricted so early booking is advisable. Tickets cost £15, including general admission to Fitzalan Chapel, gardens, grounds, CastleKeep restaurant and giftshop and a complimentary tea or coffee and biscuit. For £20, general admission to the castle rooms is also included.

Notes to editors

Arundel Castle has been the home of the Dukes of Norfolk for 900 years; it is the longest inhabited country house in England and furniture, armour, art and antiquities from many periods in its history can be seen. The Castle’s formal gardens create an attractive setting.

Arundel Castle and grounds are open from 31 March to 28 October 2007. 2007 will be the first year that the castle will be open on Saturdays throughout the season; closing on Mondays instead, except for Bank Holidays. Opening times are: Tue-Sun, 10am-5pm (Castle rooms open from 12 noon). Last entry is 4pm.

The historical special events are included in the normal full admission rates which are: £12 for adults, £9.50 for seniors, £7.50 for children and the great value £32 family ticket (2 adults + up to 5 children) for Castle, Fitzalan chapel, gardens, grounds, gift shop and restaurant.

For further information, contact Arundel Castle on tel: 01903 882173, www.arundelcastle.org, email: info@arundelcastle.org.

For press information and photographs, contact Caroline Edmunds at Pennington PR on01892 616647or e-mail: caroline@penningtonpr.com