45-470: The West Sussex Record Office at Orchard Street, Chichester , is the county record office for the county of West Sussex . It is run by West Sussex County Council . The record office holds a number of unique collections connected to the area: [REDACTED] Media related to West Sussex Record Office at Wikimedia Commons 50°50′16″N 0°47′05″W / 50.8377°N 0.7848°W / 50.8377; -0.7848 This article about
90-488: A United States Army Air Forces Consolidated B-24 Liberator crashed in the city, killing three, injuring 38, and damaging hundreds of local buildings. A new West Sussex county library was built in Tower Street in 1967, designed by county architect FR 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,
135-467: 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. The 2011 census recorded a population of 26,795 for the city of Chichester, forming 12,316 households. The 2021 census recorded an increase in population to 29,407, forming 13,263 households. There
180-658: 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
225-423: A West Sussex building or structure is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . This article about a library -related building or structure is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Chichester 50°50′11″N 0°46′45″W / 50.8365°N 0.7792°W / 50.8365; -0.7792 Chichester ( / ˈ tʃ ɪ tʃ ɪ s t ər / CHITCH -ist-ər )
270-500: 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
315-488: A new car park was underway. A museum, The Novium , preserving the baths was opened on 8 July 2012. An amphitheatre was built outside the city walls, close to the East Gate, in around 80 AD. 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
360-692: 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),
405-615: 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 . 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:
450-477: Is a small imbalance in the sex ratio , with 15,701, female residents (53.3%) and 13,706 male residents (46.7%). 26,622 residents (91%) listed their ethnic group as white. 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. The city has a tourist industry. Several marinas are situated in
495-600: 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. Founded in 1881,
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#1732783622202540-542: Is made up of some 50,000 objects which are housed within the new building, whilst the archaeological collection is contained in a purpose-built store within the Discovery Centre located at Fishbourne Roman Palace . The museum was opened on 8 July 2012. In 1831, Dr John Forbes decided to form a Philosophical and Literary Society in Chichester and, as one of the objectives of this society, Chichester Museum
585-649: Is one of the United Kingdom's flagship producing and touring theatres, whose annual summer season attracts actors, writers and directors from the West End theatre and the USA. 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
630-690: 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. 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
675-700: The Norman Conquest in 1066, the cathedral that had been founded in 681 at Selsey was moved to Chichester after the 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
720-694: 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. Chichester was bombed by the Luftwaffe during World War II , but fared relatively well compared to larger English cities. On 11 May 1944,
765-481: 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
810-492: 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. 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
855-697: 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"),
900-761: 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
945-517: The City Council is shown below - those marked * are also Chichester District Councillors. Chichester is represented in the House of Commons by the Chichester constituency , held since the 2024 General Election by Jess Brown-Fuller . From 1660 to 1868, Chichester returned two members of Parliament , this was reduced to one member by the Reform Act 1867 . The Conservative Party is dominant, with
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#1732783622202990-666: 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,
1035-516: The North, South, East and West shopping streets radiate from the central market cross dating from medieval times. The original Roman city wall was over 6 + 1 ⁄ 2 feet (2.0 m) thick with a steep ditch (which was later used to divert the River Lavant ). The lower parts of the existing city walls are Roman, but most of the above-ground work is later. The city was also home to some Roman baths, found down Tower Street when preparation for
1080-467: 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
1125-590: 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:
1170-591: The area together with related industries. A recent government study suggested that the area has a lot of employment with the public sector (as well as within the tourism and leisure industries), with a growing number of self-employed people in the area. 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 ,
1215-501: The army and rumours of wanton destruction of the remaining exhibits. By 1924 there was little left of the museum and the collection had been completely sold. During the 1930s, a wave of interest led to attempts to resurrect the museum. However, the City Corporation showed little interest in funding the venture. Finally in 1936 a two-week exhibition was displayed in the Guildhall, Priory Park using artefacts that had been collected over
1260-602: The castle as its administrative centre. 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
1305-655: The constituency returning a Conservative member at every election since 1868, with the exception of the Liberal Charles Rudkin in 1923 . Between 1812 and 1894 the constituency was represented exclusively by members of the Lennox family . The following people and organisations have received the Freedom of the City of Chichester. The City of Chichester is located on the River Lavant south of its gap through
1350-485: The decision of the Archaeological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland to hold their annual conference in Chichester. This led to a boom of local interest in local heritage, and extensive excavations were carried out in the area. The 1890s saw a dramatic decline in interest, which led to the unfortunate decision to sell artefacts to support the museum. In 1914 the museum building was commandeered by
1395-526: 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. The legendary foundation of Anglo-Saxon Chichester is described by the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle that says that the area was annexed towards the close of the fifth century, by Ælle and his three sons. The city
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1440-471: The festival up until its final staging, in 2011. The Novium The Novium is a museum in Chichester , West Sussex , southern England . The name comes from the Roman name for the city, Noviomagus Reginorum . The museum, designed by the architect Keith Williams following an architectural design competition managed by RIBA Competitions , has an area of 1,300 sq m which is approximately 2.4 times
1485-550: The move into the museum's new premises and name as The Novium . Evidence for the Roman baths was first identified in 1960 during works at the rear of Morant's Store, later the Army and Navy store. This first observation identified a section of black and white mosaic along with a fragment of wall. Further archaeological excavation was undertaken in 1972 during the construction of the Post Office Building. At that time
1530-470: 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
1575-528: The previous three years. This led to the Guildhall becoming a store for artefacts collected over the next 25 years. In 1961 another temporary exhibition was opened in the Assembly Rooms which inspired a local architect to purchase a disused Corn Mill, which he offered to lease to the council for the specific purpose of opening a museum. In 1962, the new museum opened its doors under the name of Chichester Museum with displays of 18th-century local art, and
1620-595: The size of the previous museum in Little London. The building is divided into three floors each of which will contain a gallery for exhibition. It contains a research and learning room as well as a collection store for the social history collection. The museum is built directly over the top of the Chichester's Roman Bath House complex which are displayed in the ground-floor gallery. The museum has over 350,000 objects of geological, archaeological and social historic interest. The social history and geological collections
1665-584: 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
1710-475: 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 . Following
1755-574: 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. Chichester has
1800-573: 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
1845-461: 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
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1890-766: Was formally opened in April 1964 by the Duchess of Richmond. The collection has increased dramatically since its opening due to the extensive archaeological work that has been ongoing in the area. In 1974 the museum was renamed the Chichester District Museum to reflect its direct association with the District Council . The most recent event in the museum's history was the closure of the Little London Corn Mill in anticipation of
1935-620: Was founded as a Natural History collection. The museum was initially located in the Royal West Sussex Hospital, and the collection was formed from donations from the general public. The Museum was later relocated to 45 South Street after plans for a move to 7 North Pallant were abandoned due to financial difficulty. In 1851 interest in the museum was motivated by the Great Exhibition in London, and
1980-494: 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
2025-592: 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 there is no archaeological evidence that Chichester was reoccupied after the Romans left 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
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