FISHBOURNE ROMAN PALACE.
The Roman palace at Fisbourne, near Chichester, was discovered by accident in 1960.
Workmen digging a trench for a water main uncovered the site, following this initial find
a further nine excavations were made, showing that the site developed from a military base around
AD43 a time of Roman invasion into a highly decorated palace by the 1st century.
Not long after its construction the military site was abandoned and the buildings were demolished, the site was redeveloped
and a timber dwelling constructed, containing 12 rooms, including some servants quarters.
In about AD65-75 the timber built construction was dismatled and a more elaborate stone structure was built, much of
this lies underneath the modern buildings on the southern side of the A27, limited excavations have taken place there,
so the overall plan of the palace is known.
The final phase of construction of the palace that can be seen today, began at around AD75. Fishbourne Palace
has a central courtyard, surrounded by four symmetrical wings. The main entrance is in the eastern wing, with a
large reception chamber in the western wing.
Development of the palace is thought to have continued for at least the next 200 years. The palace was elaborately
decorated with mosaic floors, sometimes new mosiacs were simply laid over the top of older ones. Fragments of highly
decorated wall plaster have been found, suggesting that the walls were also elaborately painted.
It is believed that Tiberius Claudius Togidubnus lived at the palace, as the Governor of Noviomagus Reginorum,
‘New Market of the Proud Ones’, the Roman name for Chichester. He is the only known Britain to be made a member of the
Roman senate is thought to have controlled the whole of Britain South of the Thames, including parts of Dorset,
Hampshire and Surrey, and all of Kent and Sussex, on behalf of Rome.
Sometime during the 3rd century a major fire damaged large areas of the palace, it was never repaired, the palace gradually
was reduced to rubble, with its stonework being salvaged for other buildings.
Apart from several Saxon burials, the site appears to have been forgotten and laid dormant until its accidental
discovery by workmen in 1960.
It is part of the north wing that can be seen today, protected by a viewing building. The most complete mosiac on display
depicts 'Cupid on a Dolphin' and is thought to be constructed from approximately 360,000 tiles.
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