New Shippams display opens at The Novium Museum by popular demand

Published 14:23 on 13 Jul 2026

A new display celebrating the advertising history of one of Chichesters most iconic companies is opening at The Novium Museum this month, following the success of its Hurrah for Shippams exhibition, which closed earlier this year.

 Selling Shippam's will feature a small selection of material from the Shippam's advertising archive cared for by The Novium Museum, offering visitors a closer look at how one of Chichester's most prolific companies promoted its products in innovative ways.

 Quirky print adverts and colourful packaging will help tell the story of how the company built a recognisable brand and became a household name in post-war Britain. Interactive elements will bring the brand to life from smell boxes replicating the memorable scent that wafted through Chichester to hands-on activities for children, including the chance to design their own advert inspired by Shippam's distinctive designs.

 Visitors will also have another opportunity to see the film commissioned by the museum in 2024, featuring members of the Shippam family and former employees. Exploring themes of identity, community, advertising and change, the film offers a nostalgic glimpse of Shippam's for those who remember the company, as well as an engaging introduction for those less familiar with its story.

 Also new for this exhibition is a behind-the-scenes film that reveals how Hurrah for Shippams was brought to life, offering a fascinating glimpse into the process of creating a headline museum exhibition.

 The new display follows the success of the original exhibition which opened in July 2025 after the museum was awarded £44,593 from Arts Council Englands Unlocking Collections fund. The exhibition attracted strong interest from visitors, many of whom shared memories of the company, its products and connections to the former East Walls factory, which closed in 2002.

 The museum also heard from people, including former residents who had moved away from Chichester and were unable to visit during the exhibitions seven-month run. Many expressed a desire to see the Shippams story represented at the museum on a longer-term basis.

 Founded in Chichester in 1786, Shippams grew from a local family grocer into a leading food manufacturer known nationwide for its meat and fish pastes. Once everyday cupboard staples, these products may be less familiar to shoppers today. The Shippams advertising archive shows how the company used memorable packaging, printed adverts and catchy slogans to promote them to the public.

 Councillor John Cross, Cabinet Member for Culture, Sport and Place at Chichester District Council, says: Were delighted to open this new display exploring the companys advertising archive. The success of the first exhibition showed just how much interest there is in the company locally, making this focused display a natural next step.

 The material on display is bold, colourful and nostalgic. It tells us a lot about how Shippam's presented itself to the public, while also offering an insight into changing tastes, food habits and the ways products were marketed in 20th-century Britain."

 Selling Shippams will open at The Novium Museum on Saturday 18 July. Entry to the exhibition is free, with donations welcome. There is no need to book in advance. For more information, visit www.thenovium.org/selling-ship...