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Chichester has been an important site from earliest times with archaeological evidence showing early occupation of this site. The extensive bank and earthworks to the north may have formed a series of defensive works.

When the Roman Emperor Claudius invaded Britain in 43 AD some at least of his army came ashore at Fishbourne, to the west of Chichester. Just outside the military base an elaborate Roman palace was built at Fishbourne. Recent excavations at Fishbourne Roman Palace have shown timber buildings and earthworks of a date no later than 43-44 AD.

Chichester, or Noviomagus Reginorum as the Romans called it, became an important Roman town. The principal street pattern of West Street, East Street, North Street and South Street remains as the Romans laid it out. It was a typical Roman military town with an amphitheatre on the outskirts, public baths and a Forum, although the precise site of this has not been identified. A fragment of a Roman mosaic can be seen in the Cathedral.

The present walls are built on the original Roman ones, and around 350 AD the projecting bastions, that can still be seen, were added to improve the defences.

In 1723 a Roman stone slab was found with an inscription recording the erection of a temple to Neptune and Minerva by a guild of craftsmen. This can now be seen on the outer wall of the Council House in North Street.

After the Romans troops left early in the fifth century Noviomagus Reginorum, fell into decay but by the ninth century the town had re-established itself as a centre for trade. The extended street patterns largely date from this period. It is recorded that in 894 a Danish army invading Sussex was put to flight by the people of Chichester. The origins of the name Chichester are said to date from this period. There may have been a Saxon warrior called Cissa and his name was linked with ‘caestre’ – the Roman word for fort – to give Cisse-caestre, which in time became Chichester. The first recorded use of this name was in 895. There are no definite Saxon remains that have been identified in Chichester although it is possible that parts of the former church of St Olave – now the SPCK bookshop in North Street – and the surviving north wall of what was St Martin’s church in St Martin’s Street date from this period.

Following the Norman invasion in 1066 Chichester and much of the area around it was given by William the Conqueror to Earl Roger de Montgomery. He was responsible for the building of a ‘motte and bailey’ castle. A large mound - the motte - was erected which can still be seen in Priory Park and on top of this would have been a wooden keep. A larger area - the bailey - would have been enclosed at the foot of the mound using in part the existing Roman walls. This castle was seized briefly by the French in 1216 but by 1221 it had been destroyed.

In the eleventh century the Cathedral for Sussex was moved from Selsey to Chichester and the original building was dedicated in 1108. In 1114 however it was badly damaged by a fire, which affected much of Chichester, and it was not until 1184 that the new building was re-consecrated. It is this building that forms the basis of the present-day Cathedral.

In the Middle Ages a Franciscan Friary was established in what is now called Priory Park. The ancient building, known as the Guildhall, was its church. St Mary’s Hospital was founded in the thirteenth century near the present Market Cross but by the end of that century had moved to its present site in St Martin’s Square. The hospital cared for the sick and provided accommodation for travellers. It still cares for the elderly some of whom live within the magnificent medieval structure.

In 1501 the Market Cross was built to provide for the poor a place to sell their wares free of toll. Although it lost its original purpose when the Butter Market in North Street was opened in 1808 it remains a much-loved symbol of Chichester.

In the Civil War, Royalist forces took control of Chichester in 1642, but after a brief siege, Parliamentary forces led by General Waller seized the city. The leader of the Puritan element in Chichester was William Cawley, MP for Chichester, and one of those who signed the death warrant of Charles I. Earlier he had founded an almshouse the chapel of which can still be seen at the development known as William Cawley Mews on Broyle Road. A portrait of the youthful William Cawley can be seen at the Council House in North Street.

In the latter part of the seventeenth century Chichester seems to have been in some decay although it was in this period that the valuable bronze bust of Charles I by Le Sueur was placed on the Market Cross. The present bust on the cross is a modern copy but the original can be seen in Pallant House. There is a further copy in the Council House. At this time the houses were old fashioned and the streets unpaved and unlit.

In the eighteenth century the City was improved and it is often referred to now as a Georgian City. Many of the older houses were altered to match the Georgian style with the buildings being extended beneath the earlier jetted upper storey to give a straight frontage. New houses and public buildings appeared with the spectacular Pallant House being one of the earliest. The Oliver Whitby ‘Blue Coat’ School was founded in West Street and now forms part of the Army & Navy store. The city walls were repaired and in the latter part of the century the gates were taken down to improve access. A new Council House, still dominating North Street, was built in 1731 and extended with an Assembly Room at the rear later in the century. Also in this century a new theatre was built in South Street.

The City Council promoted a parliamentary act to provide for cleaning, paving and lighting the City.

In the nineteenth century Chichester was further improved with the building of a Market House in North Street, now known as the Butter Market in 1808 and a Corn Exchange in East Street in 1832. A cattle market was built near the end of East Street in 1871 removing the weekly markets from the main streets of the city. Towards the end of the century clean water began to be provided and the Chichester Corporation acquired the Chichester Water Works Company in 1897 by Act of Parliament. At about the same time a system of drainage was also introduced.


The Twentieth Century
The twentieth century saw a large rise in the population of Chichester from 12,591 in 1901 to 23,731 in the 2001 Census. Much of this results from substantial building in the second half of the century of new homes, especially to the north of the City at East Broyle and in Summersdale.

In 1962 the Chichester Festival Theatre was built in Oaklands Park. It is well known as a centre of excellence and a second smaller theatre, the Minerva, has been built along side it. The unusual and imaginative design of the main theatre has resulted in it being given Grade II Listed Building status.

In 1974 local government reorganisation saw the end of the old Chichester Corporation as the principal authority for the City and the formation of the new Chichester District Council covering a much wider area. However by a new Royal Charter the status of Chichester as a city was confirmed. The new Chichester City Council was created which retained the mayoralty and a number of the historic buildings including the Council House, the Butter Market and the Market Cross, which celebrated its 500th anniversary in 2001.

Whilst every care has been taken in compiling this publication and the statements contained herein are believed to be correct, the publishers and promoters cannot accept responsibility for any inaccuracies. Reproduction of any part of this publication in any format, without permission, is strictly forbidden. A selection of pictures on this website provided courtesy of © J. Rob Campling.