Eight centuries of history are on display in Chichester as the city council celebrates its 800th anniversary.

The exhibition is running until Thursday (September 24) and takes visitors on a journey of continued tradition, ceremony and civic life.

Among the exhibits are items from some of the city’s most significant honorary occasions, including a visit from Queen Elizabeth II in 1986.

The Queen and Prince Philip had lunch in the council’s Assembly Rooms before bestowing the Maundy Money - specially minted coins given on Maundy Thursday to people for their contributions in the community.

Eight centuries of history are on display in Chichester as the city council celebrates its 800th anniversary. Photo: Elizabeth Junor.

placeholder image — Eight centuries of history are on display in Chichester as the city council celebrates its 800th anniversary. Photo: Elizabeth Junor.

There is also memorabilia celebrating Chichester’s links with its European twin towns, including Chartres in France, Ravenna in Italy and Speyer in Germany.

Visitors can then see the city’s ceremonial civic mace, which sits in a glass case alongside special silverware belonging to the council.

The exhibition also offers a glimpse into how the city was governed in the past. Historic bye-laws show how the council could create its own rules, covering everything from footpaths and carriages to milk shops and lodging houses.

Also on display are menus from civic occasions, including one dating back to 1912. These can be seen alongside programmes and memorabilia from royal coronations and jubilees.

Visitors can see the city’s ceremonial civic mace, which sits in a glass case alongside special silverware belonging to the council. Photo: Elizabeth Junor.

All this is set against the backdrop of the historic Smith Collection, featuring paintings by three brothers - William, John and George Smith, who painted in the 18th century and were sons of a local Chichester tradesman.