It is famous for its three-spired medieval cathedral and was the birthplace of Samuel Johnson, the inventor and writer of the first authoritative English dictionary. Only a short hop from Birmingham, this vibrant and historic city, located in the heart of Staffordshire, boasts over 230 listed buildings, including many examples of both medieval and Georgian architecture that help preserve much of its historic character.
And just a 20-minute drive from the city centre is one of the UK’s most popular theme park resorts. Drayton Manor Resort is a family theme park, zoo and accommodation in the grounds of the former Drayton Manor, covering 180 acres and visited by 1.5 million people each year as the fourth-largest amusement park in the UK. The park is also home to Thomas Land and Drayton Manor Zoo, which has voer 100 animals, including red pandasand a variety of monkeys and gibbons. But many of these visitors don’t think to stop and explore the little city on its doorstep. The city in question is Lichfield, which is just nine miles away and a 20-minute journey by car.
The historic city plays host to dozens of annual events, including The Lichfield Festival, an international arts festival, which has taken place every July for 30 years. The festival is a celebration of classical music, dance, drama, film, jazz, literature, poetry, visual arts and world music. Events take place at many venues around the city but centre including Lichfield Cathedral and the Garrick Theatre. Popular events include the medieval market in the Cathedral Close and the fireworks display which closes the festival.
Triennially, the Lichfield Mysteries, the biggest community theatre event in the country, takes place at the cathedral and in the Market Place. It consists of a cycle of 24 medieval-style plays involving over 600 amateur actors. Other weekend summer festivals include the Lichfield Folk Festival and The Lichfield Real Ale, Jazz and Blues Festivals.
And of course there is the Lichfield Heritage Weekend, incorporating Dr Johnson’s Birthday Celebrations, which takes place on the third weekend in September with a variety of civic events including live music and free historical tours of local landmarks.
But perhaps the most important site of the city is its magnificent three-spire cathedral.
This magnificent building has a rich history, reflected in its architecture and treasures. Lichfield is among the earliest centres of Christian worship in the UK.
According to the cathedral’s website, after the invasion of 1066, the Normans built a new cathedral (of which only a few traces remain), and a century or so later, that was rebuilt in the Gothic style, and completed by c. 1340. Besieged three times in the Civil War it suffered drastic damage, more than any other of our cathedrals.
Rapidly repaired in a mere nine years, its interior was rearranged at the end of the 18th century, and then ‘restored’ in the 19th century by Sir George Gilbert Scott, and that is the Cathedral we have today. The only English medieval cathedral to have three spires, it’s known locally as the ‘Ladies of the Vale’ and one of the most elegant in the country. The cathedral’s interior today, with the very fine Skidmore Screen, the choir stalls and the Minton tiles (inspired by the medieval tiles still on the floor of the library) contains a singular composition of High Victorian artistry. The very recent relighting scheme means we can now see it in all its elegant glory.
Lichfield is also famous for for two local manufacturers: Armitage Shanks: makers of baths, bidets, toilets and showers, and Arthur Price, master cutlers and silversmiths.
The city is home to Central England Co-operative (and its predecessor Midlands Co-operative Society), the second largest independent consumer co-operative in the UK
A major and sensitive restoration of the cathedral came under Sir George Gilbert Scott and his son, Oldrid, in the 19th century. Outside statues were replaced on the West Front, and around the cathedral we now have over 160 ornate carved figures of kings, queens and saints. The cathedral’s interior today, with the very fine Skidmore Screen, the choir stalls and the Minton tiles (inspired by the medieval tiles still on the floor of the library) contains a singular composition of High Victorian artistry. The very recent relighting scheme means we can now see it in all its elegant glory.