The guided tour of Chichester (led by a volunteer called Jean) began outside the Cathedral which was built by the Normans, starting in 1075. So this year is their 950th Anniversary. Jean talked about the origin story, in which Verica, a King of the Belgic Atrebates Tribe whose kingdom was centered on Sussex and Hampshire and whose capital was close to present-day Chichester, went to Rome to ask for help. Apparently, his family had become friendly with the Romans after Julius Caesar’s arrival in Britain in 55 BCE, and so Verica became a client King of the Romans when he ascended his throne in 15 CE. His appeal for help gave the Romans the pretext they needed for invading, which they did in 43 CE. Jean thinks it quite possible that some of the Roman army arrived in Chichester Harbor, because Verica’s tribe was known to be friendly. In any event, there was a peaceful takeover of power by the Romans, although, as Jean pointed out, it would have been very rough for some people, who might not have been at all happy that the Romans had arrived and taken control.

Verica’s heir Cogidubnus or Togidumnus aka Tiberius Claudius Cogidubnus was a Roman Citizen, and there is a stone in the wall of the Old Market Hall connected with him, that says ~ To Neptune and Minerva, 

for the welfare of the Divine Temple, 

by the authority of Tiberius Claudius Cogidubnus, 

great king of the Britons, 

the guild of smiths 

and those in it gave this temple at their own expense 

…ens, son of Pudentinus, presented the forecourt.

This Tiberius Claudius Cogidubnus is also thought to have been the owner of the villa at Fishbourne. (If you have never been, you really should. The mosaic floors are amazing.)

After the coming of the Anglo Saxons, this area was ruled (according to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle) by Aella and his three sons. One of those sons was called Cissa, and that is supposed to the origin of the name Chichester, which apparently means “Cissa’s Camp.”

After that, we turned into North Street and she took me to Priory Park to see the “redundant chapel” all that is left of the monastery, plus a shapeless mound that is all that remains of the castle. Then we wound our way to the Pallant Area, to see the famous Art Gallery, housed in a handsome Georgian House, built in 1712 for Henry “Lisbon” Peckham and his wife Elizabeth. No expense was spared, and so he ran through his wife’s considerable fortune building this house. It is well worth visiting.

After that, she took me to the Bishop’s Garden and mentioned the walks on the Roman walls (also well worth doing.) We parted on Canongate, after she’d told me all about Chichester’s patron saint St Richard.

After lunch, I made my way to Parham House, buyint a ticket for both the house and garden. And I was glad I did for, unlike Petworth, which was this austere forbidding pile, Parham was charming. Built in the Elizabethan times, the foundation stone was laid in 1577 by 2-year-old Thomas Palmer, whose family remained there until 1922, when it was bought by the Pearson family.

Leaving my backpack at the front desk, I followed the advice of the docent and went up to the top of the house to take in the Long Gallery, passing through impressive 16-century parlors and bedchambers as I went. After that, I visited the gardens and they were glorious. How lucky I felt to be roaming around an English garden in the Wonderful Country of Sussex on a Thursday, when most folk have to work.

It was a wonderful day!