Still a spring in the step of Arundel Castle’s staff

The castle’s expert conservationists, maintenance team, archivists, gardeners and management have been working tirelessly for the season opening, on April 1.

The walled gardens have been transformed during the winter months. Head gardener Martin Duncan and his team have hand-planted 36,000 spring bulbs.

Bryan McDonald, castle manager, said: “A huge flurry of work has been undertaken during our winter hiatus in order to present the Castle in its best possible condition to visitors this spring.”

Inside the castle, more than 300 pieces of artwork have been examined including twelve special tapestries as well as rare paintings by renowned artists including Anthony Van Dyck, Thomas Gainsborough and Canaletto.

Vast oak and mahogany surfaces have been polished, including over 300 square metres of fine oak panelling in the Barons Hall, using over thirty tins of bees wax. Twenty-seven clocks have been wound and thirty seven roof areas cared for.

The castle’s ever-popular international jousting and medieval tournament will be making a return.

And, to mark the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War, there will be a small exhibition to mark the conflict.