Beautiful Chichester is a cathedral city
located in West Sussex in the South East of England. It boasts a long and illustrious history as a
settlement after it was founded by the Romans in the third century AD.
During Anglo-Saxon times it became an
important stronghold, and by AD 890 Alfred The Great had converted Chichester
into a fortified town which was designed to thwart the regular assaults by the
Norsemen.
Chichester continued to flourish throughout
the tenth and early eleventh centuries.
There are many historical monuments and buildings throughout Chichester
that are worth visiting for an opportunity to step back through time.
Chichester Cathedral
Chichester Cathedral was built
in 1108 and is one of the oldest cathedrals in Britain. It is said to be possible
to fit the entire population of the City inside the cathedral at once. Visitors can take advantage of the fascinating
guided tours that take place twice daily within the cathedral, but should you
miss these times there are many members of staff and volunteers on hand who
will happily talk you through the cathedral’s distinguished history.
One of the sights that visitors can expect
to be greeted with is the many essential and historical pieces of art and
sculpture that the cathedral is home to.
The South Transept is home to the oldest and largest mural of its kind
in the country and depicts a fictional account of the Bishop of Chichester
asking King Henry VIII for the land that the cathedral stands on.
The North Transept, not to be outdone by
its southern counterpart, is home to an extensive collection of paintings of
all the bishops of Chichester, all with the same face as depicted by the
artist.
The Cathedral is also home to many pieces
of modern art and is currently displaying Amy Cushing’s Enlightenment
Installation.
Outside of the cathedral look to the sky as
lucky visitors may even spot one of the resident peregrine falcons which nest
in a crenelated turret at the base of the spire.
Historic Eateries
It stands to reason that a town rich in
history also has many dining options housed in beautiful historic buildings. Award-winning restaurants and exquisite fine
dining locations produce fantastic food made from the back garden of local
produce from the South Downs and locally caught fresh fish.
For summer visitors, the area boasts amazing
picnic spots with stunning views from ancient slopes, beautiful woodlands,
wildflower meadows, Norman castles and nature reserves all offering fantastic
opportunities for alfresco dining.
For a take on traditional English fare why
not sample the cuisine on offer in one of the many pubs like The Hole In The Wall pub which
offers delicious home-cooked meals from their historic building, originally an
18th Century debtors prison.
Novium Museum
Built around the roman baths house complex,
the Novium Museum is rich in historic
roman-Chichester connections. It is bursting
with artefacts discovered in the Roman baths and home to essential objects from
the towns 20th-century history.
Especially of note in the Museum is The
Racton Man, discovered in 1989. The
Racton Man was buried sometime during the bronze age and was a robust, athletic
man who died fighting in battle. The historical analysis revealed that he would
have been a very prominent member of society with great seniority.
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