Find the nearest History & Heritage in West Sussex

Petworth House, country house and park with an internationally important art collection. The park includes a woodland garden and large deer park landscaped by Capability brown.

Amberley Working Museum is a 36 acre open-air museum. This large site is dedicated to the industrial heritage of the south-east of England. The Museum contains a wide range of exhibits, ranging from transport-based collections, such as the Southdown bus collection & the village garage, to industry-based collections, such as the Print Workshop & Wheelwrights. The Museum is also home to a number of resident craftspeople, who work to traditional methods. Is easy to reach by car (free car and coach parking) or train, with a railway station immediately outside the Museum’s grounds and is served by frequent train services from London Victoria and the South Coast.

Worthing Museum and Art Gallery collections are very diverse. With one of the largest costume collections in England as well as a stunning collection of toys and dolls. A Local History Archive is very extensive as are the Archaeology Collections. The Fine Art and Decorative Art Collections cover different styles and centuries. Please note that not all of these items will be on display at any one time and if you want to see something particular when you visit it is a good idea to contact the museum in advance.

Chichester Cathedral has fine architecture in both the Norman and the Gothic styles. Chichester Cathedral has two architectural features that are unique among England’s medieval cathedrals; a free-standing medieval bell tower (or campanile) and double aisles. The cathedral contains two rare medieval sculptures, and many modern art works including tapestries, stained glass and sculpture, many of these commissioned by Dean Hussey. The spire of Chichester Cathedral, rising above its green copper roof, can be seen for many miles across the flat meadows of West Sussex and is a landmark for sailors, Chichester being one of only two English cathedrals that is visible from the sea, the other being its near neighbour, Portsmouth Cathedral.

Bosham church of The Holy Trinity, is one of the earliest churches in Sussex and there is documented evidence to show that there was a small Christian community in Bosham in the 7th century, making it the oldest site of Christianity in Sussex. One of its most famous features is the 11th century chancel arch generally believed to have been built shortly after the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Saxon tower is the oldest part of the church and stands out as a landmark for sailors as it has done for many centuries.

Bignor Roman Villa is the remains of a large Roman courtyard villa and farm which has been excavated. It is well-known for its high quality mosaic floors, which are some of the most complete and intricate in England. The site was discovered in 1811 by George Tupper who was ploughing the field. As well as the actual remains you can see the unique thatched Georgian covering buildings that have protected the site for nearly 200 years. The Villa is closed over the winter.

Goodwood House is the seat of the Dukes of Richmond. Over the years many architects have contributed to the design of the house, including James Wyatt. It was the intention to build the house to a unique octagonal layout, but only three of the eight sides were built. Some of the older parts of the house also survive, although some sections were demolished in the mid 20th century. The house has neo-classical interiors and is open to the public on a limited number of days per year. It is also available to hire for weddings and corporate events. The surrounding Goodwood Estate is a major sport and leisure venue featuring Goodwood Racecourse, home of the Glorious Goodwood flatracing festival, which is one of the highlights of the English social season; Chichester/Goodwood Airport and Goodwood Circuit; and the Goodwood Park Hotel, Golf and Country Club. The immediate grounds of the house also play host to the annual Goodwood Festival of Speed, which has rapidly become a major event in the diary of all fans, participants and companies associated with motor racing. The Rolls-Royce Motor Cars manufacturing plant and global headquarters is located on the south end of Goodwood Estate.

The guest house and other remains of a Benedictine priory: much of the fine 12th to 14th- century monastic church survives as the parish church.

Fishbourne Roman Palace was originally a military base but changed to a Palace by the end of the first century. You can see a selection of mosaics within the palace and outside, the northern half of the formal garden has been replanted to its original plan as recovered by excavation. Audio-visual programme available and site museum.

According to the inscription upon the Chichester Market Cross, it was built by Edward Story, the bishop of Chichester from 1477 to 1503. Built so that the poor people should have somewhere to sell their goods. An earlier wooden cross had been erected on the same site by Bishop Rede (1369-1385). The Market Cross is constructed of Caen stone, is octangular, having a strong butment at each angle, surmounted with pinnacles. On each of its faces is an entrance through a pointed arch, ornamented with crockets and a finial. Above this, on four of its sides, is a tablet, to commemorate its reparation in the reign of Charles II. Above each tablet is a dial, exhibiting the hour to each of the three principal streets; the fourth being excluded from this advantage by standing at an angle. In the centre is a large circular column, the basement of which forms a seat: into this column is inserted a number of groinings, which, spreading from the centre, form the roof beautifully moulded. The central column appears to continue through the roof, and is supported without by eight flying buttresses, which rest on the several corners of the building.