Look to your left for a striking, modern, cream-colored building with big windows on the ground floor-The Novium stands out from its traditional neighbors with its sharp, minimalist edges right along the street.
Welcome, time traveller, to The Novium-Chichester’s very own vault of stories, treasures, and the odd Roman bath or two! No, you’re not imagining it; this sleek, bright building is quite the departure from the ancient stones and timber frames you’ve been passing. It was designed by the architect Keith Williams, who clearly had one thing in mind: let’s do history, but make it bold! At 1,300 square meters-almost two and a half times bigger than Chichester’s old museum over in Little London-it’s got room for all the drama, secrets, and curiosities you could possibly hope for.
Officially opened in July of 2012, The Novium is named after Noviomagus Reginorum-the original Roman name for Chichester. The building stretches over three floors, each one packed to the rafters with exhibits that whisk you from Chichester’s geological roots right up through centuries of fascinating lives and stories. Downstairs is a real treat: the museum sits directly above Chichester’s actual Roman Bath House. Stand here and try to imagine the hustle and bustle from almost 2,000 years ago: the air heavy with steam, echoes of conversation bouncing off mosaics, and the heat of Roman engineering pulsing beneath your feet. Nowadays, that bathhouse is on proud display in the ground-floor gallery-a bit less steamy, but just as atmospheric.
But let’s rewind the clock a bit further. The first seeds for Chichester’s museum were sown way back in 1831, thanks to Dr John Forbes and his Philosophical and Literary Society-a bit like a book club, but with more fossils and dead beetles. The earliest collections started with natural history, thanks to the generosity of local people. For a while, the museum moved all over town: from the Royal West Sussex Hospital to various houses and shops. In 1851, excitement peaked as the Great Exhibition wowed the world and the Archaeological Institute hosted its annual conference right here in Chichester. Suddenly, everyone was interested in their roots, and the region enjoyed a bit of a treasure-hunting frenzy.
Sadly, by the late 1800s, the excitement had fizzled out. Times were tough, and many precious artefacts were sold off just to keep the lights on. When World War I arrived in 1914, the museum building was commandeered by the army, and rumor had it that the remaining treasures were not exactly treated with museum-level care. By 1924, Chichester’s collection was all but gone.
But you can’t keep Chichester’s history down for long! The 1930s brought new enthusiasm, leading, eventually, to a sort of “pop-up museum” in Priory Park’s Guildhall. Volunteers collected artefacts here for a whole 25 years, waiting for their moment to shine. In 1961, a temporary exhibition in the Assembly Rooms sparked yet another revival, and a kind-hearted architect stepped up to transform a disused Corn Mill into a new home for the museum. When Chichester Museum reopened in 1962, it was filled with sparkling local art and gleaming finds. By 1974, swelling with finds from local archaeological digs, it claimed its larger district identity.
Fast forward to today, and The Novium is the jewel in Chichester’s heritage crown. With over 350,000 objects in its collections-think everything from rare Roman mosaics to social snapshots of daily life in Sussex-it’s a time capsule overflowing with stories. Some highlights? The Jupiter Stone, the famous Chilgrove Mosaic, even a loaned bust of King Charles I recently joined the party.
So as you gaze at this modern marvel, imagine how history kept slipping through Chichester’s fingers, only to be gathered up, lovingly restored, and proudly displayed-and you, my friend, are standing right where ancient Romans once wiped the steam from their brows! Step inside, and who knows what secrets you might uncover… just don’t try taking a bath in the exhibition. I promise the staff won’t find it nearly as funny as I do!
