Town Gate And Castle Walls

1. 5401 HIGH STREET (East Side)

Town gate and Castle Walls TQ 0107 1/92

II GV

1. 1850 (Date panel). Upper greensand. Ashlar plinth, coping and dressings: otherwise rock-faced rustication. Lodge adjoining gate is rectangular with 4 smaller rectangular turrets at angles. Pointed archway with machicolation above. Wall has crenellated parapet, with bartizans on outer side and semi-circular bastions on inner side. The Town Gate and Castle Walls were built as a result of the proposal of 1833 whereby the Duke of Norfolk undertook to build a new Town Hall at his own expense, in return for the gift of the north part of the High Street, which he wished to enclose within the Castle grounds [Town Hall Deeds]. The Town Hall was complete by 1338 [Borough Council Archives]. The new London Road was built in 1341 [Arundel Castle Archives], so presumably the upper part of the High Street was appropriated then. The houses on the east side, north of No 34 were pulled down by 1546 [print of Triumphal Arch of flowers on site of present Town Gate at time of Queen Victoria's visit in 1846]. The walls and gatehouse, however, only date from 1850 [date panel].

Nos 18 to 34 (even) with the Castle Walls and Town Gates form a group.

Listing NGR: TQ0175607233