Arundel - Geography

Geography

Arundel civil parish occupies an area of 1,227 hectares (3,030 acres) and has a population (2001 census) of 3408 persons.

Arundel town is a major bridging point over the River Arun, the lowest road bridge until the opening of the Littlehampton swing bridge in 1908. Arundel Castle was built by the Normans to protect that vulnerable point to the north of the valley through the South Downs. The town later grew up on the slope below the castle to the south. The river was previously called the Tarrant and was renamed after the town by antiquarians in a back-formation.

Arundel lies to the north of the A27 road, which narrowly avoids the town centre by a short and congested single carriageway bypass. Plans for a more extensive, HQDC bypass have been on and off for the past 30 years, and are currently off, despite the junction built in anticipation for it at Crossbush. Arundel railway station is on the Arun Valley Line. The Monarch's Way long-distance footpath passes through the town and crosses the river here, while just under five miles north of the town the route of the South Downs Way runs.

Since 1st April 2011 the town has been within the boundaries of the South Downs National Park.