Chichester - A Potted History
Chichester's historic cathedral. |
One of the hilltop settlements of these early groups is The Trundle, close to Goodwood racecourse.
The earliest known beginnings of the city of Chichester are in the Roman era.
The Romans arrived in the first century AD, although the military use of the area only lasted a short while. Later, a small town was formed in the area of the present city, called Noviomagus, meaning the ‘new market.’
Masonry walls were built around the town in the third century. It was on the foundations of the Roman walls that the mediaeval walls were built and these walls still encompass most of the city.
Four gateways were built at the four corners of the compass and four streets were built. The main streets formed a cross and these streets – East Street, West Street, North Street and South Street – still exist today and form the main city centre.
Things changed in the late fifth or early sixth century when the Saxons arrived.
It is thought that Noviomagus was given to a Saxon called Cissa, after whom Chichester is named – Cissa’s ‘fortified place’, the Roman word for which was chester.
In the late ninth century Alfred the Great was forced to take strong action against the Vikings and created a network of fortified towns or burhs. In 894 a fierce battle took place in Chichester when Viking raiders were severely defeated.
Chichester underwent a tremendous change after William of Normandy conquered England in 1066.
Sussex was divided into six rapes, one of which was the Rape of Chichester. This was given to Roger de Montgomery, William’s favourite – and therefore most powerful – baron.
The Domesday Book recorded Chichester’s population as being more than 1,300, with about 160 dwellings.
Building began in 1091 on a new cathedral for Chichester, which was consecrated in 1108 by Bishop Ralph Luffa, after whom a school in the city has been named.
This new cathedral was burned down twice, in 1114 and 1187, and had to be rebuilt. The separate Bell Tower was built in the 15th century.
In the 13th century it is recorded that wool was exported from Chichester, from Dell Quay. Wool was by far England’s most important export and Chichester was one of England’s most important ports.
Chichester produced its only saint during the Middle Ages. Richard was bishop of Chichester from 1245-53.
Bishop Storey gave Chichester its Market Cross in 1501. This allowed poor people to sell their goods without paying a toll.
Chichester was divided by the Civil War. The Church was staunchly Royalist, while the merchants were Parliamentarian.
When Charles I appealed for men to rally to his side, Sir Edward Ford of Uppark, the High Sheriff, rode in through the city gates to take over.
The Parliamentarians sent in troops and artillery. After a siege lasting several days, the Royalists were forced to surrender.
The leader of the Parliamentarian forces in the city was William Cawley, a wealthy merchant and benefactor, who escaped to Portsmouth during the siege. He became one of the signatories to the death warrant of Charles I.
The population of Chichester was around 4,000 in the 18th century. It started to rise towards the end of the period, but was still less than 5,000 at the time of the first census in 1801.
Chichester was a quiet market town at this stage. It was during this period that the city gates were demolished, the last one being in 1783.
In the early 19th century the market in Chichester was becoming very congested. On Wednesdays and Saturday, cattle markets were held in North Street and East Street. The Chichester market was one of the largest in the area.
To ease the congestion it was decided to erect a building where people could sell things like butter, cheese and vegetables separately from the livestock market. In 1808, the buttermarket was built for this purpose.
Having a market in East Street still caused a lot of congestion in the city. Therefore, in 1872, a new cattle market opened near Eastgate Square.
From 1875 Chichester had a piped water supply. However it was later than most other towns in building drains and sewers. It had a reputation in the late 19th century as being unhealthy and insanitary place.
Many people in Chichester were reluctant to build a network of drains and sewers because of the expense. They were finally built in 1893-96.
In 1846 the railway reached Chichester with a line to Brighton, and in 1847 to Portsmouth.
A company was formed during the Napoleonic wars to build a canal from London to Portsmouth which would pass just south of Chichester, linking the Thames, Wey and Arun rivers to Chichester Harbour.
A spur of the canal came up to Chichester so it was possible for goods for the city arriving by sea at Dell Quay to be put on to barges and brought almost the city walls near Southgate.
Unfortunately, the project ran into financial difficulties and the French threat had long disappeared before the canal was completed.
In 1892 the Chichester portion of the canal from London was handed over to the Chichester Corporation, the rest of the canal having been closed some year earlier.
The short section of the canal from the harbour to the quay at Southgate continued to be used for goods coming by sea, particularly coal, until 1928.
In 1861 the spire of the cathedral collapsed during a thunderstorm and had to be rebuilt.
By the 1900s the population of Chichester had risen to about 12,000. By 1939 the population had risen to around 16,000.
In 1909 Chichester gained electric streetlight. In 1910 the town gained its first cinema in West Street.
The High School for Boys began in 1908. Chichester High School for Girls opened in 1910.
There were three bombing raids on the city during World War II. Bombs were dropped on Basin Road in 1941, on Chapel Street and St Martin’s Street in 1943 and on Armadale and Green Roads in 1944.
By 1971 the population of the town had reached 21,000.
Chichester Festival Theatre opened in 1962. In 1963 Chichester museum opened in an old corn store.
In 1961 a new railway station was built and in 1965 a new bus station.
Bishop Luffa School opened in 1965, the same year the College of Further Education opened.
Further developments towards the end of the century included new shopping arcades, new car parks, Westgate Leisure Centre and a new public records office.
In 1990 Chichester livestock market closed, but stallholders have continued to sell fruit, vegetables, meat, clothing, hardware and many other items on the former market days of Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Chichester has been flooded regularly over the past 50 years, the worst cases being in 1953 and 1994.
The 1953 flood was caused by rain so heavy that the flood drains could not cope. In 1994 the River Lavant, which runs under the city between the Hornet and Southgate, burst its banks.
In October 2000 prolonged heavy rain again put Chichester at risk of flooding, but the city was saved by a huge pumping operation.
