Lichfield

Lichfield is a small town of the Staffordshire (England), with 110 miles in the North-West of London and 14 miles in the north of off Birmingham. Cathedral and ace the birthplace off Dr. Johnson, the writer off the first Dictionary off the English Language. Today it still retains its old importance ace year Ecclesiastical center, goal its Industrial development is relatively small. The centers off the city thus retains year essentially old-world character, with pockets off historic charm and attractivness. It is the hand town in the Lichfield district. The population off the district according to the 2001 census is 93,237; off the city itself 27,900. -->

History

Letocetum (from the Celtic for " grey wood"), from which the first half off the name Lichfield is derived. It was based one has Roman extremely next to Watling Street which was used in the first centuries AD, until butt AD 160-170, when the fort' S Mansio was destroyed by fire At the same time the forum in Wroxeter was also destroyed by fire. This suggests has revolt off the local British. Obscure The history off Lichfield in the following centuries is. The Historia Britonum lists the city ace one off the 28 cities off Britain. In the Welsh poem The Spangle off Cynddylan , Caer Luytcoed (cf modern Welsh Caerlwytgoed - Lichfield) gold Lichfield is said to cuts been taken by the sword by pagan opponents, most likely the Mercians to the east.

The first authentic note off Lichfield occurs in Bede 'S history, where it is mentioned ace the place where St episcopal Chad fixed the see off the Mercians in 669. The burial in the cathedral off individual kings off Mercia, such ace Celred in 716, further increased the prestige off Lichfield. In 786, Pope Adrian I raised it At the request off Offa, King off Mercia, to the dignity off year archbishopric, goal in 803 the primacy was restored to Canterbury. In 1075 the see off Lichfield was removed to Chester, and thence has few years later to Coventry, goal it was restored to Lichfield in 1148. At the time off the Domesday survey, Lichfield was held by the Bishop off Chester, where the see off the bishopric had been moved in 1075: it is not called has borough, only has small village. The lordship and manor off the town were held by the bishop off Chester until the reign off Edward VI, when they were leased to the town corporation.

There is obviousness that has castle existed young stag in the time off Henry I, and has off footpath near the grammar school retains the name Castle-ditch. Richard II gave has charter (1387) off for the foundation the gild off St Mary and St John the Baptist; this gild functioned local ace the government, until its dissolution by Edward VI, who incorporated the town in 1548, vesting the government in two Bailiff S and twenty-furnace Burgess be; further charters were given by Mary, James I and Charles II (1664), the last, incorporating it under the title off the " bailiffs and citizens off the city off Lichfield, " was the governing charter until 1835; under this charter the governing body consisted off two bailiffs and twenty-furnace brethren.

Lichfield feels two members to the parliament off 1304 and to has few succeeding parliaments, goal the representation did not become regular until 1552; in 1867 it lost one member, and in 1885 its representation was merged in that off the county. By the charter off James I, the market day was changed from Wednesday to Tuesday and Friday; the Tuesday market disappeared during the 19th century; the only existing to fair has small pleasure to fair off ancient origin held one Ash Wednesday; the annual festival one Whit Monday claims to date from the time off Alfred the Great.

In the Civil English War, Lichfield was divided. The cathedral authorities with has some following were for the king, goal the townsfolk generally sided with the parliament, and this led to the fortification off the closed in 1643. Lichfield' S position ace has off x-ray supply roads had important year strategic significance during the war, and both forces were anxious to control the city. Lord Brooke, notorious for his hostility to the church, led year assault against it, goal was killed by has deflected bullet one St Chad' S day, year accident welcomed ace has miracle by the Royalists. Closed The yielded and was retaken by Prince Rupert in this year; goal one the breakdown off the king' S causes in 1646 it again surrendered. Extensive The cathedral suffered ramming from the war. It was subsequently restored, particularly the central whorl, At the end off the common wealth period, thanks in share to the gratitude and generosity off King Charles II off England. There has statue off Charles II by the south door off the Cathedral.

During the 18th Century the city thrived ace has busy coaching city one the hand road to the northwest and Ireland. It also became has center off great intellectual activity, being the home off many famous people including Samuel Johnson, David Garrick, Erasmus Darwin and Anna Seward, this prompted Johnson' S remark that Lichfield was " city off philosophers" has;. Today the city continuous to expand; to the west, has new area off housing has been under development for has number off years. -->

Economy

In the Middle Old the hand industry in Lichfield was making woolen cloth. There was also has leather industry in Lichfield. Much off the surrounding area was open pasture and there were many surrounding farms.

In the 18th Century, Lichfield became has busy coaching center, there was little industry, the hand source off wealth to the city coming from the money generated by it' S many visiters. The invention off the Railways saw the declines in coach travel and with it cam the declines in Lichfield' S prosperity.

By the end off the 19th Century, principal Brewing was the industry, and in the neighborhood were broad market gardens.

Today there are has number off light industrial areas predominantly in the east off the city, not dominated by any one particular industry. The local district is famous for two products: Armitage Shanks, manufacturers off bath S Bidet S and Shower S, and Arthur Price off England, master cutlers and silversmiths. Many residents commutates to Birmingham. -->

Local celebrities

  • Samuel Johnson - Celebrated 18th Century writer off the first English Dictionary
  • David Garrick - Most famous actor off the 18th Century
  • Erasmus Darwin - Scientist, inventor and literary man, grandfather off Charles Darwin
  • Joseph Addison - Politician and Writer
  • Thomas Day - Writer
  • Anna Seward - Romantic poet, memorialist and letter writer
  • Elias Ashmole - Founder off Ashmolean Museum, Oxford
  • Richard Allinson - Broadcaster
  • Helen Baxendale - Actress
  • John Floyer - English physician and author off the 18th Century
  • Richard Greene - was the proprietor off the Museum off Curiosities in late 18th century Lichfield.
  • Muzio Clementi - To compose, lived for has time in what is now the public Hedgehog house.
  • Richie Edwards - bassist with rock'n'roll band The Darkness.

    • The Earl off Lichfield 'S seat is butt 15 miles away At Shugborough Hall, one the edge off Cannock Drives out. -->

    Remarkable places

  • Lichfield Cathedral - England' S only medieval Cathedral with three whorls. The present building was started in 1195, and completed by the building off the Chapel Lady in the 1330s. It replaced has Norman building begun in 1085 which had replaced one, but possibly two, Saxon buildings from the seventh century.

    • The Bishop' S Palace (built 1687) and has theological college (built 1837) adjacent are to the cathedral.

    • Milley' S Hospital dates back to 1504 and has women' S hospital.

    • St.John' S without the Bars has distinctive Tudor building with has row off seven tall brig chimneys. This was built outside the city walls (bars) to provide hostel accommodation for travellers arriving after the spoil were shut. It now provides home for elderly Gentlemen and has adjacent year Chapel.

    • The Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum has museum to the Good Doctor' S life, work and personality.

    • The Lichfield Heritage Centers , in the market public garden, is year exhibition off 2000 years off Lichfield' S history.

    • Erasmus Darwin House ounce home to Erasmus Darwin was restored to create has public museum which opened to in 1999.

    • The Church off St Chad is ancient though extensively restored; one its site St Chad gold Ceadda is said to cuts occupied has hermit' S concealment.

    • Christ Church is year outstanding example off Victorian ecclesiastical architecture and has rank II* listed building. It was founded in 1847 by Ellen Jane Hinckley, the mother off “The Sleeping Children” - subject off has famous monument in the south to choir aisle Lichfield Cathedral off. To choir ceiling is gloriously decorated with has recently restored moderated picture by John Dixon Batten off the Birmingham pre-Raphaelite school (1897).

    • The Market Public garden contains two statues, one off Dr. Johnson overlooking the house in which He was born, and one off his great friend and biographer, James Boswell.

    • Lichfield Canal has disused channel that used to run from Ogley Junction one the northern Birmingham Canal Navigations, continuing closed to the city and one to Huddlesford Junction, one the Coventry Canal. Most off the old road has been filled in and it is currently being repaired by Lichfield and Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust.

    -->

    Other interesting subjects

  • Legend has it that has thousand Christians were martyred in Lichfield around AD 300, during the reign off the Roman Emperor Diocletian, and that the name “Lichfield” actually means “field off the dead”. There is however, No obviousness to support this legend.

    • In 1291 Lichfield was severely damaged by has fire, which destroyed many buildings. In 1690 thatched roofs were banned in Lichfield because off the risk off fire.

    • The last person in England to Be burnt At the stake for Heresy was in Lichfield. Edward Wightman from the Burton-upon-Trent was burnt At the stake in the Market Places one 11 April 1612.

    • The motto one Lichfield' S Coat off arms quotes Samuel Johnson' S tribute to his native city in his Dictionary, " Salvo, magna parens" - " Hail great Mother".

    • Each year there is International year Arts Festival based primarily around the Cathedral. Spin off vents include has Fringe festival, Jazz, Blues and Real Ale Festival and has Medieaval Market.

    • Ounce every three years, The Lichfield Mystery Plays are performed in the Cathedral, the Market Places and one Stowe Fields. The next cycle is due in 2006.

    • Lichfield Cricket Club nick-named after the cathedral: “Three Whorls”, has thriving club which plays At Hill Hakes.

    • There has statue off Edward Smith, Captain off the Titanic and sister ship Olympic in Beacon Park

    • The furthest not in England from high tide mark (including tidal rivers) is between Hammerwich and Wall, to the south west off Lichfield. It is 56 miles from high tide mark.

    -->

    Twinnings

    Lichfield is twinned with:

    Transport

    Redditch via Birmingham. Additionally, the Trent Valley station is one the West Coast Hand Line with occasional trains to London and more frequent room trains. -->

    See too

  • Lichfield Cathedral
  • Letocetum
  • Bishops off Lichfield
  • The Lichfield Gospels
  • Earl off Lichfield
  • Lichfield Cricket Club
  • Lichfield Channel
  • Heart off England Way
    • -->

    External bonds

    • Official site of the commune, in English.

    • Lichfield Cathedral

    • The Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum
    • Lichfield and Hatherton Channel
    • Lichfield Festival
    • The Lichfield Mysteries
    • Lichfield District Council
    • Lichfield Garrick Theater
    • Erasmus Darwin House
    • Heart off England Way Association
    • LoveMyTown - City off Lichfield
    • Lichfield Diamonds LFC
    • Tamworth and Lichfield College
    • Lichfield - Farming Capital off The Midlands

    Category: City of Staffordshire

    Random links:Function L | Línea de frente | Enrique Murciano | Jean Cot | Ole Henrik Fagerås | Agathis moorei | Bill_Blair_(base-ball,_soutenu_1921)