Chichester

Chichester, cathedral city, county town, and district, West Sussex, south-eastern England. Chichester is located almost 30 km (19 mi) east of Portsmouth, just inland from the coast between the South Downs and the English Channel. It is one of Britain's oldest towns. Settlement of the site pre-dates the establishment of the Roman market town and administrative centre of Noviomagus Regnorum in the 1st century ad. After the Romans left in the 5th century, the town fell to the Saxons who gave it its modern name. However, the original Roman layout of the town survives in the four main streets—North, South, East, and West streets. Another legacy of Noviomagus is Fishbourne Roman Palace, which was accidentally discovered in 1960 by workers laying water-pipes in the western outskirts of Chichester. They uncovered part of the fine mosaic floors of what proved to be the largest single Roman building known in Britain. Chichester's main streets meet at the late-Gothic market cross, which was built in 1501 when Chichester was a prosperous wool town.

Chichester Cathedral has had an eventful history. The original Norman church (built 1080) burned down in 1114, was rebuilt in 1123, and was then again damaged by fire in 1186. The present cathedral remains much as when it was built in the 12th and 13th centuries, with a 84.5-m (277-ft) spire visible from the English Channel. The central tower and its spire collapsed in 1861, and were rebuilt by Sir Gilbert Scott. Notable features of the cathedral include the Bishop's Palace and two rare carvings (c. 1125) depicting the story of Lazarus and Jesus being received by Mary and Martha. The composer Gustav Holst is buried in the cathedral.

Chichester is still a market town, but it has also developed as a cultural centre. The annual Chichester Festival of Drama held in the Festival Theatre (opened 1962) is one of the country's foremost arts festivals and has an international reputation. Goodwood racecourse, laid out in 1801 in the grounds of Goodwood House by the 3rd Duke of Richmond, is about 6 km (4 mi) from Chichester. Population 106,445 (2001).