Chichester Council House and Assembly Rooms

The Council House, North Street

The striking red-brick Council House on North Street has served as Chichester's civic heart since 1731. This magnificent Palladian building, complemented by its grand Assembly Rooms, continues to be a centre of local government and social gatherings nearly three centuries after its construction.

History

Before the 18th century, Chichester's Council met in an old wooden market hall building in North Street, near where the Buttermarket now stands. The market hall building was described as a simple wooden structure raised up on timber posts, with stairs leading to a small council room with low windows. You can see a reconstruction of the market hall at the wonderful Weald and Downland Museum.

By 1728 it was clear that a new meeting place was needed and the Council bought land near the market hall at a cost of £280 to build new chambers. Charles Lennox, 2nd Duke of Richmond, helped with the project, paying over a third of the £900 it cost to build the new Council House, which was finished in 1731.

The Duke's role is commemorated in an engraved stone plaque above the entrance arcade, below a stone statue of a lion, thought to be in honour of the Duke, who kept lions at his home of Goodwood House.

The Latin inscription on the plaque translates as:

IN ORDER THAT
THE COUNCIL AND THE PEOPLE OF
CHICHESTER AND THEIR PROSPERITY MIGHT
BE HAPPY AND FORTUNATE, THIS
COUNCIL HOUSE WAS BEGUN AND COMPLETED
IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD 1731,
IN THE REIGN OF GEORGE II, ELECTOR
AND KING

Assembly Rooms

In 1783, the building was enhanced with the addition of the Assembly Rooms, designed by James Wyatt and constructed by local builder Thomas Andrews. The Assembly Rooms are based around a double cube design with an apse at the eastern end.

The Murray/Nelson sculpture

Murray Sculpture

Visitors approaching the Council House from the direction of the Market Cross can't fail to note the sculpture commemorating two remarkable historical figures; Admiral Nelson and Chichester's own Sir George Murray. Sculpted by Vincent Gray, this award-winning artwork celebrates Murray's distinguished naval career and his close friendship with Nelson.

Murray served as Nelson's Captain of the Fleet before becoming Mayor of Chichester in 1815. He lived in the house that he built for himself at the corner of North Street and Guildhall Street, where he entertained important dignitaries, including the Prince and Princess of Hesse Homburg. The Murray residence later became the Ship Inn.

The Council House facade

The Pudens Stone

One of the building's most fascinating features is the ancient Pudens Stone, discovered in 1723 and now built into the Council Chamber wall. This first-century Roman inscription provides a remarkable connection to Chichester's Roman past, commemorating a temple dedicated to Neptune and Minerva.

Historic Functions and Notable Events

The Assembly Rooms have hosted numerous prestigious events throughout history, including:

• A historic 1789 meeting between Prime Minister William Pitt and the 3rd Duke of Richmond
• The 1805 celebration of the Battle of Trafalgar
• Performances by world-renowned musicians, including virtuoso violinist Niccolò Paganini (1832) and pianist Franz Liszt (1840)
• The celebration of William IV and Adelaide's coronation in 1831
• The first meetings of West Sussex County Council from 1889

Architecture and Design

The Council House exemplifies elegant Georgian architecture with its distinctive red brick and stone dressings. The two-storey structure features:

• A grand central section with three bays supported by Ionic columns
• An impressive Council Chamber on the upper floor, adorned with ornate wooden fireplaces and historical portraits
• A richly decorated plaster cornice and coffered ceiling
• Historic wooden panels listing mayors since 1532

The Assembly Rooms, added in 1783, showcase James Wyatt's architectural brilliance with:

A spacious three-bay room with multiple windows
• Classical statuary housed in wall niches
• An apsidal east end with a raised dais
• Elegant double doors and period features

The lion sculpture and dedication plaque

Modern Use

Today, the Council House remains an active civic building, hosting Chichester City Council meetings in its historic chambers. The Assembly Rooms, capable of accommodating 180 seated guests, serve as a prestigious venue for weddings and special events.

Visitors can view the ante room's fascinating collection of Vice-Admiral Sir George Murray's belongings and a replica of Charles I's bust by Hubert Le Sueur.

A display of Freedom of the City recipients features notable figures including the Duke of Richmond and Gordon (2008), The Very Reverend Nicholas Frayling (2013), and astronaut Tim Peake (2018), highlighting the building's continuing role in civic honours.

Visiting

The Council House is usually open to visitors daily and was open when we visited. Access is easy; the Council House stands on North Street, a very short stroll from the Market Cross and cathedral.