Chichester

Template:GBmap Chichester is a small city in the south of England, in the county of West Sussex, with a population of about 25,000. It is the administrative centre of the Chichester district, a largely rural area with a population of over 100,000. It has been argued that the area was a bridgehead for the Roman invasion of Britain and the city centre stands on the foundations of the Roman city of Noviomagus. It was captured towards the close of the fifth century, by Aella, and renamed after his son, Cissa, the second king of the South Saxons, who made it the royal residence and capital of his dominions. The city streets have a cross-shaped layout, inherited from the Romans: radiating outwards from the medieval market cross lead the North, South, East and West shopping streets. Quite a lot of the city walls are in place, and may be walked along for some of their length.

Chichester cathedral is dedicated to the Holy Trinity, and contains a shrine to Saint Richard of Chichester. Its spire, built of the weak local stone, collapsed suddenly and was rebuilt during the 19th century. Within the nave of the cathedral can be seen the remains of a Roman mosaic pavement.

Chichester is famous for the annual Chichester Festivities, in which the Chichester Festival Theatre plays great prominence.

Chichester is home to the Prebendal School established in 1497.

Close to Chichester is the important Roman site of Fishbourne and Chichester Harbour to which the city is connected by the Chichester Canal.

The patron saint of Chichester is Saint Giles.

Chichester has an official twinning with the city of Forlì, in Italy.

Bibliography

Alec Down. Roman Chichester. Chichester: Phillimore, 1988. ISBN 0850334357