The Novium Museum, Chichester

The Novium Museum, Chichester

The Novium is a marvellous museum covering the rich past of Chichester and area, with displays ranging from prehistory, geology, archaeology, Roman, Saxon, and medieval Chichester. There is a special display on the prehistoric find known as Boxgrove Man.

In addition, there are areas dedicated to Georgian, Victorian and 20th-century Chichester, as well as an area for special exhibits.

The museum collection is divided into three broad areas; social history, archaeology, and art and sculpture.

Collection Highlights

Highlights of the social history collection include displays on the Civil War, Delft Tiles, and the world-famous Shippam's company. See an iron fireback from the Fernhurst Furnace, a huge studded door from the Chichester Gaol (circa 1783), and a magnificent oak bannister from The Grange, a Gothic fantasy building that once stood on Tower Street.

The Chilgrove Mosaic

The archaeology exhibit on the ground floor includes the remains of a Roman bathhouse discovered in 1974-75, as well as the impressive Chilgrove Mosaic, discovered in 1963 by a farmer ploughing a field in the Chilgrove valley. The mosaic dates to the 4th century and is made to depict a symmetrical geometric design.

Then there is North Bersted Man, an Iron Age warrior buried in an elaborate grave along with grave goods that include a helmet, shield boss, sword, spear, and pottery bowls. Tests show that North Bersted Man lived sometime between 194-57 BC and was 45 years old when he died.

The Roman bathhouse hypocaust

The archaeology collection also boasts finds from the St Pancras cemetery, which was in use from roughly 70-200 AD. Then there is the Jupiter Stone; the base of a Roman statue topped with a statue of the god Jupiter. One of the most unusual objects is the Lavant Neolithic Chalk Drum, a massive cylindrical object of chalk with a rim cut into the top, dating to the New Stone Age (roughly 4000-2500 BC).

The Saxon Stopham Mount

In 2022 a metal detectorist discovered a rare pyramidal mount of gold and garnet in a field near Stopham. The mount dates to the 7th century and was likely a decoration on a leather strap securing a sword to its scabbard.

The Stopham Mount is the most complete example ever found in West Sussex and is unique in that the design shows animal heads on the side panels.

After the mount undergoes conservation it will be displayed to the public in a specially-made case on the first floor.

The social history exhibit

The museum has a host of hands-on activities for younger visitors, including mosaic building and a variety of activity sheets.

The museum is free to enter, but there may be a charge for special exhibits.

The Novium is located in a historic corn store on Tower Street, a very short stroll from the cathedral and the market cross.