What To Do When You Stay in Chichester
Written by admin on Thursday, November 6th, 2008 in General.
The Cathedral city of Chichester is located in West Sussex in England and has been a settlement for the Roman’s. However it was not until Anglo Saxon times that it grew in importance. When you stay in Chichester there are lots of things to do and see.
No visit to Chichester will be complete without time spent at its Cathedral. It dates back to 1088, just after the Domesday Book was compiled and work continued on it for many centuries after that. Historians think that work on the Cathedral was carried on until the fifteenth Century. The current cathedral Belfry was built in 1866 to replace the one that collapsed in 1861 and which had originally been built during the fifteenth Century.
Another place of interest to visit is Fishbourne Roman Palace where you can learn more about life in this part of England during the time when Roman’s occupied the area. The foundations that you see were excavated between 1960 and 1968 and were actually owned by a Celtic tribal chief (Cogidubnus) who was an ally of the Romans. The palace features numerous Roman pavements, showing off the various different mosaic techniques used by the Roman craftsmen.
For the boys then a visit to Tangmere Military Aviation Museum is a must. The museum covers 70 years of military aviation history. There are special exhibits at the museum that are dedicated to the Royal Air Force and how they waged war with the Germans over Southern England during the Second World War. As well as housing a Hunter and Meteor the museum also has a replica of a Spitfire and a Hurricane and Swift Jet.
Then a short drive from Chichester is Goodwood House which is home to the Dukes of Richmond for more than 300 years. Although the house is only open for the public 60 days a year when it is one has the chance to explore the Regency State Apartments where there are some wonderful treasures to be enjoyed. Along with paintings by George Stubbs and Canaletto there are some fine French Tapestries, furniture and porcelain to be viewed as well.
If you would like to discover what life has been like for people living in this part of England during the last 500 years or so then a visit to Weald and Downland Open Air Museum should be considered. The museum is located in fifty acres of the South Downs and it has more than forty five historic farms, homes and workplaces for you and your family to explore. All these buildings were rescued and then restored to their former glory. For the children they could spend time learning what is was like to go to school during Victorian times and may be they won’t complain about school now. The on-site farm includes Shire horses and cattle at work. After which, why not have a picnic by the lake.
When you next visit Chichester, make sure to book your hotel in Chichester here.