Bringing heritage to life

If you fancy a stroll through Lichfield's quaint streets, glorious parkland and stunning architecture, make sure you pick up a copy of our Heritage Trail from the Tourist Information Centre. The trail guides you past a series of beautifully illustrated information boards packed full of historical facts and stories to help you absorb the City's sights and sounds, whilst soaking up its fascinating history.

For the younger visitor, make sure you pick up a Children's Heritage Trail (new in Spring 2008), answer the questions and collect a prize!

Lichfield has a rich and varied history .. here's a quick taster

For a full history, visit the Lichfield Heritage Centre.

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, although luckily the stocks and the scold's bridle are unused, and burnings on the square are now out of fashion!

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 Charles II it was later restored to its former glory. Look out for the commemorative stained glass window in the Cathedral. To find out more about Lichfield's Civil War history, view the fascinating audio visual display at the Lichfield Heritage Centre.

1700s In the late 18th Century Lichfield was alive with academic discussion and became recognised as a leading intellectual and cultural centre thanks to the influences of Samuel Johnson, Erasmus Darwin, David Garrick and members of the Lunar Society. Visit the Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum and Erasmus Darwin House to find out more.

1800s It is believed that Jane Austen may have visited the City during a stay with her cousin in nearby Hamstall Ridware, and that she loved it! During the 18th & 19th Century Lichfield was a bustling and important coaching centre (visit The George, The King's Head and The Swan), alive with routs, rakes and balls. The City also developed a reputation for its ale and brewing. The last poor souls to be publicly hanged in Lichfield were three forgers who met their death in 1810 and a simple stone still marks their grave in St Michael's Church.

1900s On the night of Sunday 14 April 1912, Commander Edward John Smith sank to the depths with hundreds of others on the ill-fated Titanic. Today his statue stands proudly in the gardens of Beacon Park.

2003 - 2006 Excavations in the Nave of the Cathedral uncovered remains of a Saxon Church and the Lichfield Angel, believed to be part of the Shrine built by Bishop Hedda in 700 to house the remains of St Chad.

Today Lichfield is a modern and exciting City that marries history, heritage and modern culture - we hope you love it!