The award-winning Chichester Roman Week is back this May half-term (Saturday 29 May – 5 June), celebrating Chichester’s vibrant Roman history.
Here in Chichester’s City Centre The Novium Museum has organised an exciting range of events to entertain visitors of all ages including a Roman Treasure Hunt around the City Walls which has been supported by Chichester BID.
Please note some events are paid events and all of the events require advance booking to avoid disappointment.
Family Events
The Roman Treasure Hunt is running from Saturday 29th May – Saturday 5th June. There are 10 Roman objects displayed in the windows of 10 city centre shops and businesses. Find them and write down which shop/business each object is in and you could win a Roman workshop, virtual field trip or loan box for your entire class. The trail can be completed either by collecting a form from The Novium Museum, downloading your own from here, or by downloading the LOYALFREE APP.
Other family activities and events include ‘The Ministry of Time’ on Monday 31 May, Roman Object Handling from Tuesday 1 June – Saturday 5 June, Making your own Roman Armour on Tuesday 1 June and the chance to create your own Roman Coins on Thursday 3 June. There will also be a Storytelling with Brutus the Centurion on Friday 4 June at The Guildhall, Priory Park. Finally, on Saturday 5 June visitors to the museum will have the chance to meet some of the staff to find out more about Britain at the time of the Roman Invasion and what the people living here thought about the Romans in dedicated Celts V Roman Day.
Specialist Events and Talks
Although most events will be delivered in person this year, a number of virtual events are included in the programme, including a Roman Food Virtual Talk on Wednesday 4 June with Caroline Nicolay, an Archaeology Interpreter and Living Historian specialising in ancient food. Caroline will present the changes in diet and culinary habits brought to Britain by the Roman conquest.
Prior to that, on Tuesday 1 of June at 6pm at Priory Park there will be an evening talk by James Kenny, Archaeology Officer at Chichester District Council about excavations in Priory Park and plans for the future.
On Thursday 3 and Friday 4 June there is also the opportunity to Walk like a Roman around the elevated Chichester City Walls and find out why the Roman gates were reconstructed in 1911.
Finally on Saturday 5 June there will be a Brooch Making Workshop during which, under the guidance of local jeweller Sarah Macrae, you will have the chance to use traditional hand tools to make a bronze brooch inspired by the designs of the Roman Bow brooches in the Novium Museum collection.
Chichester Roman Week 2021 will take place within Government guidelines relating to Covid-19 at the time of each event. For more information, and for a full programme of events, visit www.thenovium.org/romanweek.
Due to covid-secure measures in place, capacity at each event is strictly limited and early booking is recommended to avoid disappointment.
Chichester Festival Theatre, West Sussex Libraries, Pallant House Gallery, Chichester Cathedral and West Sussex Record Office will also be running events throughout the week.