CHICHESTER, a city and municipal borough in the Chich ester parliamentary division of Sussex, England, 69m. S.W. of London by the S.R. Pop. (1931) 13,911. It lies in the coastal plain at the foot of a spur of the South Downs, a mile from the head of Chichester harbour, an inlet of the English channel. The Romano-British town on this site was perhaps Regnum or Regni. Situated on one Roman road in direct connection with London and another leading from east to west, Chichester (Cissaceaster, Ci cestre) remained of considerable importance under the South Saxon kings. In 967 King Edgar established a mint here. Though Domesday Book speaks of 142 burgages in Chichester and a charter of Henry I. mentions the borough, the earliest extant char ter is that granted by Stephen, confirming to the burgesses their customs and rights of the borough and gild merchant. This was confirmed by Henry II. By a charter of Edward II., the customs of wool, hides and skins were reserved to the king. Edward III. directed that the Sussex county court should be held at Chich ester. Confirmations of the previous charters were granted by Edward III., Richard II., Henry VI., Edward IV.,. Henry VII., Henry VIII., Edward VI., Philip and Mary, and Elizabeth. A court leet, court of record and bailiffs' court of liberties still exist. In 1604 the city was incorporated under a mayor and aldermen. Since 1295, when it first returned a member, Chichester has been regularly represented in Parliament. Throughout the middle ages Chichester was a place of great commercial importance, Edward III. establishing a wool staple here in 1348. Fairs were granted by Henry I. and Henry VII. Fuller mentions the Wednesday market as being famous for corn, while Camden speaks of that on Satur day as the greatest for fish in the county.
The cathedral church of the Holy Trinity was founded towards the close of the nth th century, after the see had been removed to Chichester from Selsey in 1075. It was consecrated in 1108; Bishop Ralph Luffa (1o91-1123) was the first great builder, followed by Seffrid II. (1180-12o4), but disastrous fires led to fur ther building throughout the 13th century. Norman work appears in the nave (arcade and triforium), choir (arcade) and elsewhere; but there is much very beautiful Early English work, as in the choir above the arcade. The nave is remarkable in having double aisles on each side, the outer pair being of the 13th century. The church is also unique among English cathedrals for its detached campanile, a massive and beautiful Perpendicular structure with the top storey octagonal. Modern restorations, which include the fine central tower and spire (originally 14th century), the Deco rated Lady Chapel and the Perpendicular cloisters, have been effected with great care. The library is a fine late Norman vaulted room ; and the bishop's palace retains an Early English chapel. The cathedral is 393f t. long within, I3 I f t. across the transepts, and 9of t. across the nave with its double aisles. The height of the spire is 277 feet.
At the junction of the four main streets of the town, which pre serves its Roman plan, stands the market cross, an octagonal structure in ornate Perpendicular style, built by Bishop Story, c. 1500, perhaps the finest of its kind in the United Kingdom. The hospital of St. Mary was founded in the 12th century, but the ex isting buildings are transitional from Early English to Decorated. Its use as an almshouse is maintained. Other ancient buildings are the churches of St. Olave, in the construction of which Roman materials were used ; the Guildhall, formerly a Grey Friars' chapel, of the 13th century; the Canon Gate leading into the cathedral close; and the Vicars college. The city retains a great part of its ancient walls, which have a circuit of about a mile and a half, and at least in part, follow the line of Roman fortifications. The gram mar school was founded in 1497 by Bishop Story. There is a large cattle market, and the town has considerable agricultural trade, but no outstanding industry. A canal connects with Chich ester harbour. The diocese includes the whole county of Sussex except a few parishes, with very small portions of Kent and Surrey.