Chichester Guide
Chichester is a city at the foot of the South Downs and is surrounded by beautiful countryside, sandy beaches, fishing villages, historical and family attractions.
History of the City Of Chichester, UK
It was the Romans who founded the city of Chichester back in 43 AD when they landed. The Romans set up a fort on the River Lavant, the ideal location for receiving supplies from France. “Noviomagus” was the name that they gave to the settlement. The streets were laid out in a grid with roads going North, East, West, and South. The basic road layout is still in place to this day. The forum was at the centre of the town, a marketplace for trading local goods. Shops and public buildings were also located in this area.
The amphitheatre was constructed beside Chichester around 80 AD, with about 800 seats arranged in tiers. The amphitheatre would have been used for bear baiting and cock fighting. Bear baiting is where a bear is chained and p then attacked by trained dogs. It also hosted some gladiator fights where they would fight to the death to entertain the crowds.
Towards the end of the 2nd Century, ramparts and a ditch were introduced to fortify the town. Stone walls were constructed in the 3rd Century and were further reinforced in the 4th Century with bastions or semi-circular towers.
Romans had their pastimes, and one of the most common ones was going to the public baths. Chichester had public baths on what is now known as Chapel Street. During Roman times, the baths served as a place not only for getting clean but also for mingling and socialising. At the junction of Lion Street and North Street was a temple to the Roman Gods Minerva and Neptune. Potters, blacksmiths, carpenters, and other traders would also have worked there.
Chichester was already a declining town by the end of the 4th Century, and the last one of the Roman soldiers finally left in 407 AD. Nothing much is known about exactly what transpired for the next two centuries, but by the start of the 6th Century, Saxons had arrived, and it was at this juncture, the name Chichester traces its origins.
The Saxons used to refer to groups of old Roman buildings as coasters. The Saxons subsequently named the town after a Saxon called Cissa, later known as “Cissa’s Ceas. His name was shortened to Cissceser and finally Cliches.”r”. The history of Chichester is documented sparsely over the next several hundred years.
In the late 9th Century, Alfred the Great made Chichester a burgh (fortified town), starting the practice of fortifying towns across the kingdom. Burghs made it easier for men to gather and defend against attacks from the Danes.
In 894, the Danes arrived in West Sussex, but men from Chichester and the surrounding areas confronted them and managed to kill several hundred Danes and even take some captive. This success proved the importance of Burghs like Chichester for the security of the kingdom.
Chichester, as a burgh, was not only an important fortification during this period but had also transformed into a flourishing market town. A mint was introduced in Chichester in the 10th Century, which is testament to the town’s importance in the region.
A motte-and-bailey castle was built in Chichester by the Normans after they invaded England, although it was later occupied by a French Prince who was in line for the crown of England at the time. The prince’s ascension to the throne never came to be, and he went back to France. The castle was thereafter demolished.
The next major development in the town was the construction of the Cathedral at the end of the 10th century. In 1108, the Cathedral was consecrated, but soon after, it was destroyed by fire and had to be rebuilt. Another fire destroyed the Cathedral in 1187, and it was rebuilt again. A spire was introduced in the early 15th Century, and the building still stands to this day virtually untouched since the addition.
Bishop Storey erected the Chichester Market Cross in 1501, and traders who brought goods to sell in the market were required to pay a toll. This historic landmark still stands today.
Chichester declined again towards the end of the Middle Ages in the 16th Century and was no longer a significant town. The town enjoyed a variety of improvements thanks to the Georgians. Chichester had its first bank, and its streets were paved. In the year 1791, Chichester had its first theatre. Chichester started growing in the 19th Century due to the rapid population growth in Britain during this period. At the start of the Napoleonic wars, a barracks was built in the town.
Modernisation has occurred throughout its prevailing history since then. However, Chichester has stayed relatively undeveloped overall, and much of the medieval heritage remains to this day, which makes it a site of historical interest and a popular tourist destination.
Today, the City of Chichester remains the prosperous administrative capital of West Sussex. Its broad streets are lined with listed buildings, with the towering presence of the Cathedral heading this list. The city centre is enclosed neatly within the ancient city walls, which makes it great to explore on foot and a great place to do some shopping. However, it is hard to avoid its links to its illustrious past.
A gulls eye guide to Chichester Marina
Sponsored by Haven Knox-Johnston
Featured Businesses
We aim to promote successful businesses locally to help them gain even more traction. Our featured business is a web design company in Chichester called iwebsitez.com. They provide website design services to companies and individuals all around the world. They say, “Having a great website is one thing; having people find it is another.” This is the whole purpose of their being here to help you, not just have a trendy website but also get found with search engine optimisation.
If you would like to be a featured business, please click the link below to get in touch.
