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Chichester

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A walk through the layers of civic identity

Chichester’s streets feel less like a modern city and more like a palimpsest of public life. The open‑air market that has persisted for centuries still gathers under the same medieval arches, but the stalls now showcase artisan micro‑brews and locally milled grain bags, a subtle nod to the city's historic role as a trading hub. Beneath the bustle, the civic buildings—council house, guildhall and corn exchange—form a compact civic square that has housed town meetings since the 12th century. A quick detour to the former Roman walls, now incorporated into garden paths, reveals how each generation has repurposed the same stones, turning defensive ramparts into community green space.

Seasonal rhythms for the discerning visitor

The city's calendar offers more than a single summer high tide. Early spring brings the cathedral’s blossom‑framed choral evensong, when the acoustics amplify the faint rustle of new leaves outside the transept. Autumn, with its muted gold light, is perfect for the annual literary walk that traces the steps of local writers, linking cafés that once served as informal salons. Winter’s low tide uncovers quiet riverside paths along the River Lavant, ideal for reflective walks before the festive market lights flicker on the Old Town’s cobbles.

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Introduction

City in West Sussex, England For the local government district, see Chichester District. For other uses, see Chichester (disambiguation). City and civil parish in EnglandChichesterCity and civil parishMarket Cross from East StreetCathedralCouncil HouseGuildhallCorn ExchangeCity walls, built on Roman foundationsCoat of arms granted in 1570ChichesterLocation within West SussexInteractive map of ChichesterArea10.67 km2 (4.12 sq mi) Population29,407 (2021 Census)• Density2,756/km2 (7,140/sq mi)DemonymCicestrianOS grid referenceSU86060482• London54 miles (87 km) NNECivil parishChichesterDistrictChichesterShire countyWest SussexRegionSouth EastCountryEnglandSovereign stateUnited KingdomPost townCHICHESTERPostcode districtPO19Dialling code01243PoliceSussexFireWest SussexAmbulanceSouth East Coast UK ParliamentChichesterWebsiteCity Council List of places UK England West Sussex 50°50′11″N 0°46′45″W / 50.8365°N 0.7792°W / 50.8365; -0.7792 Chichester (/ˈtʃɪtʃɪstər/ ⓘ CHITCH-ist-ər) is a cathedral city and civil parish in the Chichester district of West Sussex, England. It is the only city in West Sussex and is its county town. In 2021 the parish had a population of 29,407. It was a Roman and Anglo-Saxon settlement and a major market town from those times through Norman and medieval times to the present day. It is the seat of the Church of England Diocese of Chichester and is home to a 12th-century cathedral. The city has two main watercourses: the Chichester Canal and the River Lavant. The Lavant, a winterbourne, runs to the south of the city walls; it is hidden mostly in culverts when close to the city centre.

History

[edit] Roman period[edit] Main article: Noviomagus Reginorum There is no recorded evidence that Chichester was a settlement of any size before the coming of the Romans. The area around Chichester is believed to have played a significant part during the Roman invasion of AD 43, as confirmed by evidence of military storage structures in the area of the nearby Fishbourne Roman Palace. The city centre stands on the foundations of the Romano-British city of Noviomagus Reginorum, capital of the Civitas Reginorum. The Roman road of Stane Street, connecting the city with London, started at the east gate, while the Chichester to Silchester road started from the north gate. The plan of the city is inherited from the Romans: the North, South, East and West shopping streets radiate from the central market cross dating from medieval times. Chichester's city walls, originating from Roman times, were the subject of a comprehensive study by the City Council in 2019, in which were discussed possibilities for enhancing the walls' preservation, accessibility and interest as a tourist attraction. The city was also home to Roman baths. A museum preserving the baths, the Novium, was opened on 8 July 2012. An amphitheatre was built outside the city walls, close to the East Gate, in around 80 AD.[citation needed] The area is now a park, but the site of the amphitheatre is discernible as a gentle bank approximately oval in shape; a notice board in the park gives more information. In January 2017, archaeologists using underground radar reported the discovery of the relatively untouched ground floor of a Roman townhouse and outbuilding. The exceptional preservation is due to the fact the site, Priory Park, belonged to a monastery and has never been built upon since Roman times. Anglo-Saxon period[edit] Penny, minted in Chichester under Cnut the Great between 1024 and 1030.Moneyer: Leofwine. The legendary foundation of Anglo-Saxon Chichester is described in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, where it says that the area was annexed towards the close of the fifth century by Ælle of Sussex and his three sons. The city was supposedly renamed after his son, Cissa. It also says that it was the principal city of the Kingdom of Sussex. However, the foundation story is regarded as a myth by historians as no archaeological evidence has been found to suggest that Chichester was reoccupied until the 9th century. In the 9th century Alfred the Great set about building a system of fortified towns or forts, known as burhs, in response to the Viking threat. This included old Roman settlements where the walls could be rebuilt and strengthened. Chichester was one of these and was rebuilt probably between 878 and 879. The Burghal Hidage is an Anglo-Saxon document that provides a list of over thirty burhs, mainly in the ancient Kingdom of Wessex, and the taxes (recorded as numbers of hides) assigned for their maintenance. For each five hides the town was expected to provide one fully armed soldier in the king's service, and one man from every hide was to be liable to do garrison duty for the burhs and to help in their initial construction and upkeep. Chichester was one of the larger burhs and was rated at 1500 hides. The system was supported by a communication network based on hilltop beacons to provide early warning. It has been suggested that one such link ran from Chichester to London. Norman period[edit] Following the Norman Conquest in 1066, the cathedral that had been founded in 681 at Selsey was moved to Chichester after the Norman Council of London of 1075 decreed that Sees should be centred in cities. When the Domesday Book of 1086 was compiled, Cicestre in the Hundred of Stockbridge (comprising 102 households across the five areas outside the city) comprised 300 dwellings which held a population of 1,500 people, and had an annual value of 25 pounds. There was a mill named Kings Mill that would have been rented to local slaves and villeins. After the Battle of Hastings the township of Chichester was handed to Roger de Mongomerie, 1st Earl of Shrewsbury, for courageous efforts in the battle, but it was forfeited in 1104 by the 3rd Earl. Shortly after 1066 Chichester Castle was built by Roger de Mongomerie to consolidate Norman power. In around 1143 the title Earl of Arundel (also known as the Earl of Sussex until that title fell out of use) was created and became the dominant local landowner. In 1216, Chichester Castle, along with Reigate Castle, was captured by the French, but regained the following year, when the castle was ordered to be destroyed by the king. Between 1250 and 1262, the Rape of Chichester was created from the western half of Arundel rape, with the castle as its administrative centre. Medieval to Victorian period[edit] Engraved map of Chichester in 1610 by John Speed In about 1400 Bishop Robert Reed erected a cross in the Market Place. At Christmas 1642 during the First English Civil War, the city was besieged and St Pancras church was destroyed by gunfire. A military presence was established in the city in 1795 with the construction of a depot on land where the Hawkhurst Gang had been hanged. It was named the Roussillon Barracks in 1958. The military presence had mostly ceased by 2014 and the site was being developed for housing. with the former Guardroom known as The Keep playing host to a detachment of the Army Cadet Force. At the beginning of the 19th-century, Chichester's livestock market was recorded as the second largest in the country. World War II to present[edit] Chichester was bombed by the Luftwaffe during World War II, but fared relatively well compared to larger English cities. On 11 May 1944, a United States Army Air Forces B-24 Liberator bomber crashed in the city, killing three, injuring 38, and damaging hundreds of local buildings. County Library, Tower St A new West Sussex county library was built in Tower Street in 1967, designed by county architect F. R. Steele. This was listed at Grade II in 2015. In December 1993 and January 1994, Chichester was affected by the 1993–94 West Sussex floods. On 21 November 2017, the Chichester District Council adopted a 'Southern Gateway' plan to redevelop an area from the law courts to the canal basin, including the two railway level crossings.

Governance

[edit] Chichester City Council[edit] See also: History of local government in Sussex and List of mayors of Chichester Council House, North Street, headquarters of the City Council County Hall, Chichester, headquarters of West Sussex County Council Historically, Chichester was a city and liberty, thereby largely self-governing. Although it has retained its city status, in 1888 it became a municipal borough, transferring some powers to West Sussex administrative county. In 1974 the municipal borough became part of the much larger Chichester District. The City Council was retained but it only has the powers of a parish council; control of services is largely in the hands of Chichester District Council and West Sussex County Council. The City Council meets in the Council House on North Street, which dates from 1731. Prior to this the City Council, and its predecessor the City Corporation, had met in Chichester Guildhall. In addition to its own council offices, those of the Chichester District and the West Sussex County Council are located in the city. The City Council consists of eighteen elected members serving five wards of the city – North, South, East, West, and Central. Elections to the City Council last took place on Thursday 5 May 2023. The current makeup of the City Council is shown below – those marked * are also Chichester District Councillors. Ward Councillor Party Term of Office Chichester Central Anne Scicluna Liberal Democrats 1974– James Vivian* Liberal Democrats 2023– Chichester East Ann Butler Liberal Democrats 2023– Rhys Chant* Liberal Democrats 2022– Joanne Kondabeka Liberal Democrats 2023– Kenneth Squire Liberal Democrats 2023– Chichester North Maureen Corfield* Liberal Democrats 2021– Craig Gershater Liberal Democrats 2019– Shiva Knight Liberal Democrats 2023– Rhodri Moore Liberal Democrats 2023– Chichester South Judy Gershater Liberal Democrats 2023– Nick Russell Liberal Democrats 2025– Sean McHale Liberal Democrats 2023– Robert Miall Liberal Democrats 2023– Chichester West Clare Apel* Liberal Democrats 1989– Stuart Loxton Liberal Democrats 2023– Louise Pramas Liberal Democrats 2023– Sarah Quail Liberal Democrats 2021– Parliament[edit] Chichester is represented in the House of Commons by the Chichester constituency, held since the 2024 general election by Jess Brown-Fuller of the Liberal Democrats. From 1660 to 1868 the constituency returned two members of Parliament, a number reduced to one by the Reform Act 1867. Between 1812 and 1894 it was represented exclusively by members of the Lennox family. The Conservative Party held the seat continuously from 1924 until 2024, with the exception of a single Liberal victory in 1923. At the 2024 general election the Liberal Democrats gained the constituency with a substantially increased majority, receiving nearly twice as many votes as the incumbent Conservative candidate (25,540 to 13,368). Contemporary reporting linked the shift in support to local environmental concerns, including repeated sewage discharges affecting the River Lavant and nearby chalk streams. Arms[edit] Coat of arms of Chichester Notes Granted 14 August 1570, to the former Borough. The chief is shown indented in an earlier Visitation record. Escutcheon Argent Guttée-de-Sang (drops of blood) on a Chief Gules a Lion passant guardant Or. The meaning and origin of the arms, granted on 14 August 1570, are not known (though the chief bears a typical royal English lion). There is no official motto per se, but the wider Chichester District has one in Latin (ADHUC HIC HESTERNA, "The things of yesterday are still with us"). Freedom of the City[edit] The following people and organisations have received the Freedom of the City of Chichester. 1951 – The Royal Sussex Regiment 1960 – RAF Tangmere 1981 – The Royal Military Police 2000 – The West Sussex Fire Brigade 2008 – 47th Regiment Royal Artillery 2008 – Charles Gordon-Lennox, 10th Duke of Richmond 2013 – Nicholas Frayling 2018 – Major Tim Peake 2021 – Philip Jackson 2023 – Rodney Duggua 2023 – Roger Gibson

Geography

[edit] See also: Geography of Sussex and Geology of West SussexThe eight areas of Chichester Conservation The City of Chichester is located on the River Lavant south of its gap through the South Downs. This winterbourne for part of its course now runs through the city in underground culverts. The city's site made it an ideal place for settlement, with many ancient routeways converging here. The oldest section lies within the medieval walls of the city, which are built on Roman foundations. The Chichester conservation area, designated for its architectural and historic interest, encompasses the whole of the Roman town, and includes many Grade I and II listed buildings. Further to the north lies the separate conservation area around the former Graylingwell Hospital, and to the south, the Chichester Conservation Area has been extended recently to include the newly restored canal basin and part of Chichester Canal itself. The Conservation Area has been split into eight 'character' areas, based on historic development, building type, uses and activities. Traffic density and urban acoustics have been subjects of local analysis; a 2025 study on noise pollution ranked the city as the third noisiest in Britain, highlighting impact levels on residential areas. Climate[edit] Chichester has a maritime climate. With its position in southern England, Chichester has mild winters and cool summers. West Sussex has high sunshine levels compared with other parts of the UK with around 1,900 hours annually.

Culture

[edit] See also: Culture of SussexChichester Festival Theatre The city holds an annual four-week arts and music festival ("Festival of Chichester") held in June and July. Chichester Cathedral has a year-round programme of music, talks and other events, including free lunchtime concerts of classical music. Chichester Festival Theatre is one of the United Kingdom's flagship[citation needed] producing and touring theatres, with an annual summer season. Many productions originating from this theatre have transferred to the West End or toured nationally and internationally. Pallant House Gallery, winner of the 2007 gallery of the year Gulbenkian Prize, has a major collection of chiefly modern British art and in 2006 opened a new extension that houses the collection of Sir Colin St John Wilson. It has a changing programme of exhibitions. Chichester is home to the South Downs Planetarium & Science Centre, which opened in 2001 and features a program of public star shows in its 100-seat theatre. The Sloe Fair, a funfair that dates back to the 12th century, is held annually on 20 October in the city's Northgate car park. Chichester Cinema at New Park is the city's first and only arthouse cinema. It shows a selection of mainstream, small-budget and older films 7 days a week. It hosts an annual 18-day International Film Festival in August/September. Vice-presidents are Maggie Smith and Kenneth Branagh. There is a larger, multiplex cinema located at Chichester Gate. Chichester's previous cinemas were the Olympia Electric on Northgate (1911–1922), the Plaza Cinema on South Street (1920–1960, the Odeon from 1945 and now Iceland supermarket), the Granada Exchange at the Corn Exchange (1922–1980) and the Gaumont on Eastgate Square (1937–1961, later the swimming baths). The Chichester Open Mic has supported regular programmes of readings by contemporary poets in the city since 2010. It also hosts a high-profile annual event under the banner Poetry and All That Jazz which included performances by Don Paterson in 2010, Sam Willetts in 2011, and David Harsent in 2012. In 2012 The Novium, Chichester's museum, was opened by author Kate Mosse. Designed by the architect Keith Williams, is approximately 2.4 times the size of the previous museum in Little London. Key highlights are Roman Bath House, Jupiter Stone and Chilgrove Mosaic. In May 2013 Chichester hosted the Chichester Street Art Festival week where international street artists created colourful murals around the city. Chichester is mentioned in a 1992 episode of A Bit of Fry and Laurie, the 2003 film Bright Young Things directed by Stephen Fry, the 2005 film Stoned about Brian Jones from the Rolling Stones, and also in the 2009 film Sherlock Holmes. The city is periodically referred to in Call the Midwife, as the seat of the Order of Saint Raymond Nonnatus, the mother house's exterior being depicted in episode 1.6. The West Sussex Record Office is in Orchard Street and contains the county archives. On 21 April 2017 it was announced that a second parchment manuscript copy of the United States Declaration of Independence, now termed The Sussex Declaration, had been discovered in the archives. Chichester has one of the highest rates of empty homes in England, with 1 in every 17 houses vacant. In October 2020, 3,444 houses were vacant, of which 3,302 were second homes. Music[edit] Founded in 1881, the Chichester Symphony Orchestra has both amateur and professional players. Three concerts are given each year with the summer concert being part of the Chichester Festivities while the autumn concert is included in the Chichester Cathedral Lunchtime Series. The Chichester Singers, under musical director Jonathan Willcocks, perform classical and contemporary works in concert. The Chichester RAJF (From "Real Ale and Jazz Festival"), was a four-day festival of music and real ale held each July in tents beside the 13th century Guildhall in Priory Park. Founded in 1980 by members of Chichester Hockey Club as a fund-raising event, the festival's early years focused on traditional jazz and featured performers such as Kenny Ball, Humphrey Lyttelton and Kenny Baker. In the 1990s blues and R&B were introduced and acts including Status Quo, Blondie, Boney M, Howard Jones, Go West, The Pretenders and Simple Minds played the festival up until its final staging, in 2011.[citation needed] Twinning[edit] The City of Chichester has been twinned with Chartres, France, since February 1959 and Ravenna, Italy, since December 1996 and Speyer, Germany, since 2023. Friendship links have also been established with Marktredwitz in Germany, Kursk in Russia and Valletta in Malta.

Landmarks

[edit] See also: Grade I listed buildings in Chichester District and Grade II* listed buildings in Chichester District See also: Listed buildings in Chichester (within the city walls) See also: Listed buildings in Chichester (outside the city walls) Chichester Cross, built c. 1477–1503; depicted by Edward Story, c. 1831 Chichester Cross, which is a type of buttercross familiar in old market towns, was built in 1501 as a covered marketplace, and stands at the intersection of the four main roads in the centre of the city. Chichester Cathedral, formally known as the Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity, is the seat of the Anglican Bishop of Chichester. It is a Grade I listed building from 1075. The Butter Market in North Street was designed by John Nash, and was opened in 1808 as a food and produce market. The Corn Exchange on East Street was built in 1833, one of the first in the country. From the 1880s it was used for drama and entertainment and became a cinema from the 1910s. An attempt to convert it to a bingo hall was refused in 1977. As it could not be converted to a multiplex it was closed on 9 August 1980. It remained closed and unused for six years until the front was opened as a fast food restaurant and the rear converted for offices. From 2005 the front has been used by a clothing retailer. In 1921, Sir William Robertson unveiled a war memorial in Eastgate Square for soldiers who died in World War I. The memorial was relocated to Litten Gardens in 1940. The city council subsequently added the names of soldiers who died in World War II.

Transport

[edit] Railway[edit] Chichester station in 2021 Chichester railway station, on the West Coastway line, has regular services to Brighton, London Victoria via Gatwick Airport, Portsmouth and Southampton. In the past, there was a branch line to Midhurst in the north and a light railway, built by Colonel H. F. Stephens; it was known as the West Sussex Railway, which ran south to Selsey, and closed in 1935. Roads[edit] Chichester is the hub of several main roads. The most important of these is the A27 coastal trunk road, which connects Eastbourne with Southampton; it passes to the south of the city. The A27 connects Chichester to the M3, M27 and M275 motorways. The secondary coastal road, the A259, which begins its journey at Folkestone in Kent, joins the A27 here and ends in Havant to the west. Both of those roads make east–west connections. Three roads give Chichester access to the north: the A29 to London joins the A27 several miles to the east of the city; the A285 runs north-east to Petworth and beyond; and the A286 runs northwards towards Haslemere, Surrey. Buses[edit] Chichester bus station, which is adjacent to the railway station, is the local hub for bus services. Operators include Stagecoach in the South Downs and Compass Travel. Air[edit] Chichester/Goodwood Airport; the perimeter road forms Goodwood motor racing circuit Chichester/Goodwood Airport is situated north of the city. Paths[edit] There are several long-distance routes for walkers, cyclists and riders in the area; some of these routes, like the Centurion Way to West Dean, start here. Centurion Way was opened in the mid-1990s and runs along the former railway line. The name was chosen by Ben Adams, a local schoolboy who won a competition to name the path.[citation needed] In summer 2020, COVID-19 temporary pop-up segregated cycle lanes were implemented predominately around parts of the city inner ring road and associated routes.

Education

[edit] See also: List of schools in West Sussex There are three secondary schools in Chichester: Chichester Free School (which also has a primary sector in Bognor Regis), Bishop Luffa School and Chichester High School formed after the Chichester High School for Boys and Chichester High School for Girls merged in 2016. In the primary sector there are two infant-only schools: Lancastrian and Rumboldswyke; the Central C of E Junior School; six all-level schools; and two special-needs schools at Fordwater and St Anthony's.[citation needed] In the independent sector there are three-day preparatory schools (Oakwood Preparatory School, The Prebendal School and Westbourne House School). The higher and further educational institutions include the Chichester High School Sixth Form. It offers a range of A-Level and vocational courses. Bishop Luffa School sixth form also offers a range of A-Level courses and Chichester College, formerly Chichester College of Arts, Science and Technology; offers both foundation-level and degree-equivalent courses, mainly focused towards vocational qualifications for industry.[citation needed] The University of Chichester was granted degree-awarding body status by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority in October 2005.

Religion

[edit] See also: Religion in Sussex Religions adhered to by Chichester residents (2021 Census) Christian   47.7% No religion   42.5% Other   3.4% Religion not stated   6.4% Figures from the 2021 census. Religions with less than 1% adherence grouped as Other. Chichester Cathedral's west front and millennium statue of Saint Richard of Chichester Chichester Cathedral, founded in the 11th century, is dedicated to the Holy Trinity, and contains a shrine to Saint Richard of Chichester. Its spire, built of the weak local stone, collapsed and was rebuilt during the 19th century. In the south aisle of the cathedral a glass panel in the floor enables a view of the remains of a Roman mosaic pavement. The cathedral is unusual in Britain in having a separate bell tower a few metres away from the main building, rather than integrated into it. Within the cathedral there is the medieval tomb of Richard FitzAlan, Earl of Arundel and his wife Eleanor Plantagenet, the inspiration of the poem "An Arundel Tomb", by Philip Larkin. A memorial statue exists of William Huskisson, once member of parliament for the city, but best remembered as the first man to be run over by a railway engine. Leonard Bernstein's Chichester Psalms were commissioned for the cathedral. In addition to the cathedral there are five Church of England churches, St Richard's Roman Catholic church and nine religious buildings of other denominations. Redundant churches include the Grade I-listed St John the Evangelist's Church, an octagonal white-brick proprietary chapel with an impressive three-decker pulpit. St Mary's Hospital Almshouses are a 13th-century religious foundation located at St Martin's Square, providing housing and care for elderly people from the Chichester diocese.

Notable people

[edit] Main article: List of people from Chichester Tim Peake, first British ESA astronaut William Juxon, born 1582, attended The Prebendal School before studying at Oxford. He became chaplain to Charles I and was the last English cleric to hold both church and secular high office. He became Archbishop of Canterbury following the Restoration. William Cawley, born 1602 in Chichester, was on the other side of the English Civil War. Also educated at Oxford University he became the Member of Parliament for Chichester in 1628 and for Midhurst in 1640. He was a regicide and served on the Council of State during the Commonwealth, being forced to flee to Switzerland after the Restoration. A later MP for the town, William Huskisson was the first widely reported person to die in a railway accident, when he was run over by Stephenson's Rocket at the opening of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway. In modern times middle-distance runner Christopher Chataway was elected to Parliament in 1969. Military people have included Edric Gifford, 3rd Baron Gifford who won a Victoria Cross during the Third Anglo-Ashanti War. General Charles Harington Harington served in the Second Boer War and as a staff officer throughout World War I, and military theorist Major General J. F. C. Fuller planned the first large scale tank assault at the Battle of Cambrai in 1917. Artists who were born or lived most of their lives in Chichester include Richard Buckner, Heywood Hardy, James Hayllar, William Shayer and George Smith. Author Kate Mosse (born 1961) studied at Chichester High School For Girls, living in Chichester until moving to Oxford to attend New College. She is author of the first main-stage new play by a woman at Chichester Festival Theatre, an adaptation of her novel The Taxidermist's Daughter, set in and around Chichester. Tim Peake, who became the first official British astronaut when he arrived on the International Space Station in December 2015, was born in Chichester in 1972. Peake attended the Chichester High School for Boys, which now has a Sports and Conference centre named after him and opened by him.[citation needed] Edward Bradford Titchener, born in Chichester, created the school of thought in psychology that described the structure of the mind: structuralism. Tom Odell, who was born in Chichester, is a singer and songwriter who gained success with his album, Wrong Crowd. Singer songwriter Anohni Hegarty was born in Chichester and lived there for the first 10 years of her life.

Chichester

A walk through the layers of civic identity

Seasonal rhythms for the discerning visitor

What guidebooks miss: the neighbourhood of the Cicestrian