A CASTLE FOR ALL OCCASIONS NESTLED IN THE SUSSEX COUNTRYSIDE
Amberley Castle is a unique luxury hotel steeped in over 900 years of history
HISTORY
Amberley Castle, recorded in the Doomsday Book as Amberley, is rich in history, and to this day, still obtains many of its original features.
THE HISTORY
The land where Amberley Castle stands was gifted to Bishop Wilfrid in 683 AD by Caedwalla, King of Wessex and the castle’s current buildings owe their origins to a timberframed hunting lodge built in 1103 by Bishop Luffa.
The following 400 years saw this lodge transformed into a fortified manor house complete with crenelations, battlements and a portcullis under the supervision of a number of resident bishops.
In the wake of the English reformation, the castle was leased to a series of tenants and during the Civil War it became a royalist strong hold. Oliver Cromwell sent General Waller to destroy the defences in 1643 and 20 to 30 feet was lost from the Curtain Walls and the Great Hall was destroyed, creating a ruin.
After the Civil War, Amberley Castle was seized from the Church by Parliament and sold by the Office of Sequestration of Estates to Mr John Butler, a cloth merchant from London who built the Manor House out of the ruins which had been the Great Hall.
RESTAURANT
Amberley Castle has a long held reputation for delivering outstanding cuisine.
Enjoyed in either the magnificent Queen's Room, with its barrel-vaulted ceiling dating back to the 12th century and open fire or The Great Room, built in 1165 by Bishop Luffa of Chichester, a fine example of Norman architecture with its high lancet windows, open fireplace, oak flooring, tapestry and suits of armour.
ROOMS
All 19 bedrooms at Amberley Castle are luxuriously appointed. Every room is unique in design, furnished with antiques and fine fabrics, and some feature ensuite whirlpool bathrooms. Naturally all come with crisp white linen, plumped up pillows and sumptuous Vispring beds to guarantee that perfect night's slumber.
