The future of Arundel Blackfriars
We are gathering information and the views of interested people in the south range ruins of the former friary on the south side of Mill Road, Arundel. We need to make decisions about the future of the south range because the ruins are in a fragile condition, structurally unsound and partly at risk of collapse. We are working with several stakeholders, including Historic England, to explore options to safeguard the ruins and their setting with the aim of securing a holistic solution for their sustainable long term future.
The ruins on both sides of Mill Road are the remains of a former Dominican house, founded for nuns by the year 1253. The friary seems to have been always poor and was surrendered to the Crown in 1538. The friary then fell into decay and later the buildings were used variously as dwellings, a malthouse, timber yards, stables and a pigsty. In 1724, stone was robbed from the ruins to supply material for rebuilding the nearby River Arun bridge.
In 1892-3, the ruins were partially demolished and cut through by a new road, now Mill Road. In 1936, the ownership of the part south of Mill Road was transferred from the Duke of Norfolk to the Borough of Arundel and public gardens created, now the part of Jubilee Gardens north of the River Arun. Since then, throughout the C20 and into the C21, the ruins have been repaired repeatedly to address natural decay caused by weathering and decay caused by human interventions.
The whole of the former friary is protected as a single scheduled monument and a grade II listed building under the misnomer 'Maison Dieu'. The south range is further protected by land covenants with the Duke of Norfolk. Not for the first time, the monument was included on the Historic England heritage at risk register in late 2025. The south range is in the South Downs National Park and Mill Road is maintained by West Sussex County Council. The parts north of Mill Road are in separate ownerships and not under our guardianship.
Latest news
Following our consideration of an options appraisal report in early 2026, we have commenced our engagement with other organisations. We have presented the seven options identified in the report to key stakeholders and have been seeking their views on Arundel Blackfriars. These stakeholders include all of the landowners and statutory authorities. As heritage at risk, the consultation process is being supported by Historic England.
At the same time, the protection works installed in 2025 are being maintained. The temporary structural propping, perimeter hoarding and footway diversion are being inspected regularly. The ruins are being monitored for movement due to vibration. The hoarding decorative treatment was added in the autumn 2026. The temporary works will need to remain in situ until the construction work for whichever option is taken forward is completed.
Information about Arundel Friary continues to be gathered to support the project. Landowners have been identified. A listing amendment application is being assessed in late 2026 and early 2027 by Historic England. Ruins similar to Arundel have been assessed. A digital geospatial survey is being procured. Archaeological investigations need to be carried out.
So now we would like to know the view of a wide range of people on the future of Arundel Blackfriars, both people for whom the ruins have social and cultural meanings and/or people who value the ruins as heritage assets. Please help us by looking through this consultation, carefully considering the information provided and completing the short survey.
Consultation on the South Range - options
We are asking for the views of people with interests in the south range on three of the seven options identified. Options 1 to 4 have been assessed to be either for the short term only or undeliverable for the reasons given for each of those options. Options 5, 6 and 7 are considered at this stage in the project to be deliverable and it is these three options on which views are being sought.
All works to the scheduled monument require written consent, which may be conditional, from the HM Government Department of Culture Media and Sport Secretary of State having consulted with Historic England. Works include demolition, destruction or damage to the monument; removal or repair, alterations or additions to the monument; and flooding or tipping operations on the land.
Whichever option is taken forward, it will need to be supported by alterations to the Jubilee Gardens landscaping to improve sustainability, including biodiversity, ease of access and drainage, and to provide protection when needed. Alterations will be needed also to Mill Road south side footway, verge and parking and some realignment of the public footpath through Jubilee Gardens. To achieve a holistic solution, the south range option and landscaping design will need to be co-ordinated with the other landowners of the monument and the whole of its surroundings.
The below is a sketch of the current state of the ruins
Options 1 to 4 not being taken forward
Each of options 1 to 4 would not meet one of the land covenants which requires that we as the landowner 'will not pull down damage or destroy the ruins … but that they will use reasonable means to preserve such ruins regarding them as of national interest'. If options 1 or 3 or 4 were pursued, a deed of release would need to have been negotiated with the Norfolk Estate.
Option 1: Leave ruins to decay
Under option 1, the south range ruins and their landscaping would be left to decay naturally, not repaired, with minimal maintenance. This is curated decay. Permanent perimeter fencing would exclude access to protect people from the masonry. It is a 'safe harbour' option which allows other options to be implemented in the future. Overall, it likely to be the least costly option financially.
However, option 1 is considered undeliverable because it does not meet the scheduled monument guardianship and land covenant requirements. Currently, there are no compelling reasons for this option and no public benefit would be achieved. Public access would not be provided. The ruins would not be preserved and their setting would not be retained or enhanced.
Option 2: Provide temporary protection to people and ruins
To protect the south range ruins from structural collapse and to protect people from the risk of harm, the option 2 temporary protection was implemented by us in 2024-26. As for option 1, it is a 'safe harbour' option which allows some protection to the heritage asset whilst other options are being considered for the future of the south range. It is a relatively low financial cost option.
Option 2 is short term only because it preserves the scheduled monument only temporarily. The appearance of the setting has changed. Notwithstanding this, option 2 needs support from everyone involved whilst a long term solution is found. The financial costs are ongoing including for the temporary works inspections and maintenance and their statutory permissions.
Option 3: Dismantle ruins partially
Under option 3, the south range ruins would be dismantled partially to a low height above ground, the remaining masonry repaired and new wall top protection provided. The risk of harm to people would be reduced to a reasonable level so allowing public access. Option 3 would have a medium level financial cost. Repairs would continue to be needed to the walls exposed to the weather.
As for option 1, option 3 is considered undeliverable because it does not meet the scheduled monument guardianship and land covenant requirements. Currently, the option is not supported by Historic England as there are no compelling reasons to do so and only limited public benefit would be achieved. Significant irreversible harm would be caused to the ruins and their setting.
Option 4: Demolish ruins down to ground
In option 4, the south range ruins above ground would be demolished entirely. An outline of the former walls would be provided flush with the ground. There would be full public access as the risk of harm to be people from the ruins would be negligible. Option 4 would have a relatively low financial cost with only ongoing landscaping maintenance needed.
As for options 1 and 3, option 4 is considered undeliverable because it does not meet the scheduled monument guardianship and land covenant requirements. The option is not supported by Historic England because there are currently no compelling reasons to do so and little public benefit would be achieved. Very significant and irreversible harm would be caused to the ruins and their setting.
Accordion end
Options 5, 6 and 7 for consideration
Each of options 5 or 6 or 7 will require scheduled monument consent from the HM Government DCMS Secretary of State following pre-application discussions with Historic England. Separate listed building consent will not be needed. There are precedents for options 6 and 7 and either will require planning permission from the South Downs National Park Authority also following pre-application discussions.
The conservation architect and structural engineer will review the masonry repairs to the ruined walls with Historic England input. The repairs carried out previously, the repair techniques currently available and those now suitable for the south range will be considered for each of options 5, 6 and 7. Each option will need different repair solutions because of differing needs. There is a risk that repairs will be needed before an option can be chosen and construction can commence.
Option 5: Repair ruins with permanent support
Under option 5, the south range ruins will be repaired and additional permanent structural support provided. Option 5 is in effect what has been happening since at least the early C20. The work will include rebuilding wall facings and new lintols to openings so altering the appearance of the ruins. Public access would be allowed following the repairs and in the future when the risk of harm to people is acceptably low. Option 5 is likely to have the highest long term financial cost of all the options because of the need for regular inspections, maintenance and future further repairs.
Option 5 is considered deliverable because the monument will be preserved and the land covenant met. However, the masonry will continue to be exposed and decay naturally. The fabric decay rate will increase with changing weather patterns. The appearance will continue to change as ever more repairs are needed and the amount of rebuilding will become irreversible. With each round of repairs, the ruins will have to be closed to the public until after further repair works are completed. Eventually, option 5 will cease to be a reasonable means of preserving the south range.
Option 6: Repair ruins with support and provide cover over and around
Under option 6, the south range will be covered over by a new free-standing roof and walls. The ruins will be repaired and permanent structural support provided within the new enclosure. The masonry will be protected from weather extremes and the decay rate reduced. The repairs will be less extensive than under option 5 and less frequent future repairs are likely to be needed although some protection may be necessary. Public access to the ruins would be available during the enclosure opening hours. Option 6 is likely to have a lower long term financial cost than option 5.
Subject to statutory consents, option 6 is considered potentially deliverable because the monument will be preserved and the land covenant met. Historic England have acknowledged that this option may be justifiable. However, the enclosure will need to be somewhat larger in plan than the ruins and its uses, other than for viewing the ruins, may be limited. Its design will need to be co-ordinated with proposals for the whole monument. Clear and convincing justification and substantial public benefit will need to be achieved to offset the potential significant harm caused by the adverse impact on the monument and its setting.
Option 7: Repair ruins with support and rebuild to create new building
To create a new building under option 7, the south range ruined walls will be repaired and rebuilt with a new roof. Historical documents will inform the design and the repairs will enable the rebuilding so that no additional protection will be needed. The rebuilt and new masonry will be weather resistant and the decay rate reduced. The new building might have a variety of community uses, with possible moderate income generation, and be accessible to the public during opening hours. Although the initial costs might be higher than option 6, option 7 is likely also to have a lower long term financial cost than option 5.
Subject to statutory consents, option 7 is considered potentially deliverable because the monument will be preserved and the land covenant met. Historic England have acknowledged that this option may be justifiable. Although rebuilt, the south range plan form will be retained and the overall size is likely to be less than option 6. There is good potential for design and spatial co-ordination with the whole monument. As for option 6, clear and convincing justification is needed for the rebuilding. Substantial public benefit, including securing optimum viable use, is needed to offset the potential for significant harm to the monument and its setting.
Consultation form
This consultation seeks to gather the views of a diverse range of people interested in the Arundel Blackfriars south range ruins. As their guardian, we will consider all responses received alongside the views and advice from key stakeholders including Historic England. Any work to the monument will require scheduled monument consent from the HM Government Department of Culture, Media and Sport Secretary of State.
The consultation is open until 14 December 2026.
When this form is submitted, personal data such as names and addresses will not be collected automatically. However, if any data is provided in the question responses, it will be recorded and will form part of the survey record.