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About Chichester - show infohide info
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. The city centre stands on the foundations of the Romano-British city of Noviomagus Reginorum, capital of the Civitas Reginorum, and near to the Roman Palace of Fishbourne. According to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle it was captured towards the close of the fifth century, by Ælle, and renamed after his son, Cissa. It was the chief city of the Kingdom of Sussex. 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. The Cathedral is unusual in the UK in having a separate bell tower a few metres away from the main building, rather than integrated into it. The city is famous for the annual Chichester Festivities, a three-week arts and music festival held in July. The city is also home to the world-renowned Chichester Festival Theatre whose annual summer season attracts the highest calibre of actors, writers and directors and is widely considered one of the most important annual events in British theatre. Close to Chichester is the important Roman site of Fishbourne, and Chichester Harbour to which the city was connected by the Chichester Canal, currently under restoration. Also close by are the towns of Worthing, Bognor Regis, Brighton, Portsmouth, Southampton, Eastleigh, Horsham and the Isle of Wight, plus the smaller villages of Stockbridge, Drayton, Goodwood, East Ashling, Oakwood and Merston.
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