LICHFIELD CITY
Lichfield is Staffordshire’s premier heritage city nestled in the heart of the country’s most creative county, just north of Birmingham. This year Lichfield is celebrating Samuel Johnson’s 300th Birthday with events throughout the year.
Circa 160 AD Lichfield was first created in the 1st Century when the Romans built a fort at Letocetum which was used until around 170 AD (now known as Wall).
Circa 672 Following the death of St Chad, Lichfield was reborn as an ecclesiastical centre in honour of the saint’s shrine.
1086 Lichfield is mentioned in the Domesday Book (Licefelle and Lecefelle as it was known then). During the 18th century, documents show the City’s name evolved into Litchfield. The name’s exact roots are unclear, but are believed to derive from either ‘grey wood’ or ‘site of a battle’ and this will probably be argued over by historians for centuries to come.
1153 Today’s market keeps up the tradition that began in 1153
1230 A Franciscan monastery was founded and helped the sick and needy for over three centuries. It was later destroyed under orders from Henry VIII but remains of the building can still be seen at St Chad’s Church.
1387 Lichfield was given the first of a series of Royal Charters by Richard II, and through the years rose to become the largest and wealthiest towns in Staffordshire.
1643 During the English Civil War Lichfield was divided. Townsfolk and the church crossed swords in a series of three bloody sieges. A royalist miracle was declared on St Chad’s Day when Lord Brook led an assault against the church and was killed by a deflected bullet. During the battles the Cathedral suffered great blows and its central spire collapsed. Thanks to the generosity of King