When looking into my visit to Chichester a place I used to visit often when I was young it was real interest than I came across a museum that wasn't here on my last visit. Not far from the cathedral, tucked away on a side street is The Novium, built over the remains of a thermae a kind of Roman bath house.
While it's Roman past is important to Chichester this a museum about much more than that. There are interactive elements that all museums should encourage. The best way to engage in history is to be able to touch it. The fact that examples of historic headwear are free to try on and photograph yourself in is fun and helps realise how heavy a Norman solider or Roman centurion's armour must have weighed from the head down.
Over the space of a coupe of floors are exhibits that to chart the history of an ancient city. Each time period is clearly colour coordinated. This helps enormously for those with an interest in a particular area of study or just to show you how distinct the development of a place can be.
The ground floor Roman exhibits are interesting, the remains of the baths alone are worth the entrance fee. Uncovered in 1974 and 1975 the intactness of such a find makes them a reward glimpse into Roman life without leaving our own shores.
Other Roman artifacts include a mosaic from Chilgrove, which you can see just how intricate the work would have been put into each design. Also there is what is thought to be the base of a statue of Jupiter and a head of a statue of a Roman emperor found at Bosham.
The view of the cathedral and the city from the second floor is one of the best you will get as the little interesting facts such as Chichester having more Fareham still chimney pots than Fareham itself.
Having only opened in 2012 I am sure it will serve a fine city for many years to come.
If you want to know more or plan a visit then visit their website www.novium.org or their Facebook page www.Facebook.com/TheNovium and not forgetting Twitter @TheNovium
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