County Hall, Chichester

County Hall in Chichester is an administrative building located on West Street and serves as the headquarters for West Sussex County Council. The structure features a symmetrical main frontage with twenty-one bays arranged around a central courtyard, reflecting Georgian Revival architectural design.

The building was completed in 1933 after West Sussex County Council acquired Wren House in 1916 to establish a centralized meeting point. This consolidation ended the practice of spreading administrative functions across multiple locations.

The council chamber on the ground floor serves as the center where local governance decisions affecting West Sussex communities take place. Visitors can observe how the space is designed to bring together officials and the public for local decision-making.

The building is open on weekdays and houses office spaces along with council chamber meetings for local governance activities. Its central location on West Street makes it easily accessible on foot, with parking available nearby.

During the 1960s, an emergency control center designed to handle potential nuclear threats was incorporated into the building. This hidden space behind the scenes reflects Cold War anxieties and can still be seen today.

Location: Chichester

GPS coordinates: 50.83772,-0.78278

Latest update: December 14, 2025 11:00