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Lichfield (district)
Encyclopedia
Lichfield is a local government district
in Staffordshire
, England. It is administered by Lichfield District Council
, based in Lichfield
.
The dignity and privileges of the City of Lichfield are vested in the parish council of the 14 km² Lichfield civil parish. The non-metropolitan district of Lichfield covers nearly 25 times this area and its local authority is Lichfield District Council.
The district was formed on 1 April 1974, under the Local Government Act 1972
, by a merger of the existing City of Lichfield with most of the Lichfield Rural District
.
The town of Burntwood
also makes up a major part of the Lichfield district.
, and that the name 'Lichfield' actually means 'field of the dead' (see Lich
). There is however, no evidence to support this legend. At Wall, 3 miles (5 km) to the south of the present city, there was a Romano-British
village called Letocetum
from the British (Celtic) for "grey wood", from which the first half of the name Lichfield is derived. The second part of the name is derived from the Old English "feld", meaning 'open country'. In that sense 'Lichfield' would be 'common pasture in grey wood', 'grey' perhaps referring to varieties of tree prominent in the landscape, such as ash and elm.
50.89% of the population was female, leaving 49.11% of the population being male.
Christians made up 80.44% of the population, with 11.95% of the population having no religion, 1.05% being from other religions and 6.56% who didn’t state a religion.
96.57% of the population was White British, 0.70% White Irish, 0.87% White Other, 0.53% Mixed Race, 0.78% Asian, 0.25% Black and 0.29% Chinese. 2.84% of the population was born outside of the United Kingdom.
Plans have been approved for Friarsgate, a new £100 million shopping and leisure complex opposite Lichfield City Station. The police station, bus station, Ford garage and multi-storey car park will be demolished to make way for new retail space and leisure facilities consisting of a flagship department store, six-screen cinema, hotel, 37 individual shops, 56 apartments and over 700 car parking spaces.
, near Lichfield City, in Staffordshire
, on 5 July 2009, the Staffordshire Hoard
is the largest hoard of Anglo-Saxon
gold and silver metalwork ever found. It consists of nearly 4,000 items that are nearly all martial in character . The artefacts
have tentatively been dated to the 7th or 8th centuries, placing the origin of the items in the time of the Kingdom of Mercia
.
The hoard was valued at £3.285 million, and has now been purchased by the Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery
and the Potteries Museum & Art Gallery
where items from the hoard are displayed.
During 2011, The Staffordshire Hoard on Tour is bringing more than 40 star pieces of the hoard to Stafford, Lichfield and Tamworth. The tour will stop at Shire Hall Gallery in Stafford
from the 2nd-24th July, at Lichfield Cathedral
from 30th July to 21st August and at Tamworth Castle
from 27th August to 18th.
Non-metropolitan district
Non-metropolitan districts, or colloquially shire districts, are a type of local government district in England. As created, they are sub-divisions of non-metropolitan counties in a so-called "two-tier" arrangement...
in Staffordshire
Staffordshire
Staffordshire is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. Part of the National Forest lies within its borders...
, England. It is administered by Lichfield District Council
Lichfield District Council
Lichfield District Council is a non metropolitan district council, which covers the district of Lichfield in Staffordshire, England. It was formed in 1974 from Lichfield City Council and Lichfield Rural District Council...
, based in Lichfield
Lichfield
Lichfield is a cathedral city, civil parish and district in Staffordshire, England. One of eight civil parishes with city status in England, Lichfield is situated roughly north of Birmingham...
.
The dignity and privileges of the City of Lichfield are vested in the parish council of the 14 km² Lichfield civil parish. The non-metropolitan district of Lichfield covers nearly 25 times this area and its local authority is Lichfield District Council.
The district was formed on 1 April 1974, under the Local Government Act 1972
Local Government Act 1972
The Local Government Act 1972 is an Act of Parliament in the United Kingdom that reformed local government in England and Wales on 1 April 1974....
, by a merger of the existing City of Lichfield with most of the Lichfield Rural District
Lichfield Rural District
Lichfield was a rural district in the county of Staffordshire, England from 1894 to 1974.It was enlarged in 1934 by gaining part of Staffordshire that has been administered since 1894 as part of Tamworth Rural District, which was otherwise in Warwickshire....
.
The town of Burntwood
Burntwood
Burntwood is a town in Staffordshire, England, lying in the Cannock Chase area approximately west of Lichfield. The town had a population of 25,674 at the time of the 2001 census and forms part of Lichfield district. The town forms one of the largest urbanised parishes in England. Samuel Johnson...
also makes up a major part of the Lichfield district.
Etymology
Legend has it that a thousand Christians were martyred in Lichfield around AD 300, during the reign of the Roman Emperor DiocletianDiocletian
Diocletian |latinized]] upon his accession to Diocletian . c. 22 December 244 – 3 December 311), was a Roman Emperor from 284 to 305....
, and that the name 'Lichfield' actually means 'field of the dead' (see Lich
Lich
In modern fantasy fiction, a lich is a type of undead creature. Often such a creature is the result of a transformation, as a powerful magician or king striving for eternal life uses spells or rituals to bind his intellect to his animated corpse and thereby achieve a form of immortality...
). There is however, no evidence to support this legend. At Wall, 3 miles (5 km) to the south of the present city, there was a Romano-British
Romano-British
Romano-British culture describes the culture that arose in Britain under the Roman Empire following the Roman conquest of AD 43 and the creation of the province of Britannia. It arose as a fusion of the imported Roman culture with that of the indigenous Britons, a people of Celtic language and...
village called Letocetum
Letocetum
Letocetum is the remains of a Roman settlement. It was an important military staging post and posting station near the junction of Watling Street, the Roman military road to North Wales , and Icknield Street . The site is now within the parish of Wall, Staffordshire, England...
from the British (Celtic) for "grey wood", from which the first half of the name Lichfield is derived. The second part of the name is derived from the Old English "feld", meaning 'open country'. In that sense 'Lichfield' would be 'common pasture in grey wood', 'grey' perhaps referring to varieties of tree prominent in the landscape, such as ash and elm.
Demographics
According to 2008 estimates, the population of Lichfield district is 97,900. At the time of the 2001 UK Census, Lichfield district’s population was 93,232. The figures below are also from the 2001 UK Census.50.89% of the population was female, leaving 49.11% of the population being male.
Christians made up 80.44% of the population, with 11.95% of the population having no religion, 1.05% being from other religions and 6.56% who didn’t state a religion.
96.57% of the population was White British, 0.70% White Irish, 0.87% White Other, 0.53% Mixed Race, 0.78% Asian, 0.25% Black and 0.29% Chinese. 2.84% of the population was born outside of the United Kingdom.
Settlements Within The District
- AlrewasAlrewasAlrewas is a large village and civil parish within Lichfield District, in Staffordshire, England. It lies on the A38 road, approximately 5 miles north of Lichfield...
, ArmitageArmitageArmitage is a village in Staffordshire, England on the south side of the Trent and Mersey Canal between Lichfield and Rugeley. Together with the adjacent village of Handsacre, it forms the parish of Armitage with Handsacre.-Village Amenities:... - BlithburyBlithburyBlithbury is a small village in Lichfield District, Staffordshire, England. Part of the civil parish of Mavesyn Ridware, it lies near the River Blithe, about north of Handsacre, 3 miles north-east of Rugeley, and 3 miles south of Abbots Bromley....
, BurntwoodBurntwoodBurntwood is a town in Staffordshire, England, lying in the Cannock Chase area approximately west of Lichfield. The town had a population of 25,674 at the time of the 2001 census and forms part of Lichfield district. The town forms one of the largest urbanised parishes in England. Samuel Johnson... - Chase TerraceChase TerraceChase Terrace is an area in the town of Burntwood in Staffordshire, England.Chase Terrace began as a mining village in the 1860s with mines at the south side of Cannock Road. By 1884 Chase Terrace had gained a population of nearly 2,000...
, ChasetownChasetownChasetown is an area in the town of Burntwood, and is split between the civil parishes of Burntwood and Hammerwich in Staffordshire, England.Chasetown began as a coal mining village in the mid-18th century, at first known simply as Cannock Chase...
, ChorleyFarewell and ChorleyFarewell and Chorley is a civil parish in Lichfield District, Staffordshire, England. The villages of Farewell and Chorley, that make up the parish, lie 3 or 4 miles north-west of the City of Lichfield. The parish council is a joint one with Curborough and Elmhurst....
, Clifton CampvilleClifton CampvilleClifton Campville is a village and civil parish in Staffordshire, England. It lies on the River Mease, about east of the City of Lichfield, west of Measham and north of Tamworth. In 2001 the parish had a population of 764....
, ColtonColton, StaffordshireColton is a village and civil parish in Lichfield District, Staffordshire, England. It is situated just outside the town of Rugeley.Colton is the home to Border Collie Trust GB, a registered charity rescuing and rehoming Border Collies and Collie crosses throughout the UK.There is also a village...
, ComberfordComberfordComberford is a small settlement in Staffordshire, England. It lies by the River Tame, about north-east of Tamworth along the A513 road. Historically part of the parish of Wigginton, it is now within the Wigginton and Hopwas civil parish in the district of Lichfield.There is an Anglican church in...
, CroxallCroxallCroxall is a parish that was historically in Derbyshire, but is now in Staffordshire, England. Croxall is still very near to the boundary with Staffordshire...
, CurboroughCurborough and ElmhurstCurborough and Elmhurst is a civil parish in Lichfield District, Staffordshire, England. The hamlets of Curborough and Elmhurst, that make up the parish, lie just north of the City of Lichfield, and are separated from each other by the West Coast Main Line. The parish council is a joint one with... - Drayton BassettDrayton BassettDrayton Bassett is a village and civil parish in the District of Lichfield, Staffordshire, England. Nearby are the town of Tamworth and Middleton Lakes RSPB reserve, formerly a gravel quarry known in part as Drayton Bassett Pits.It formerly had a manor....
- EdingaleEdingaleEdingale is a village and civil parish in Lichfield District, Staffordshire, England. It lies on the River Mease, around north of Tamworth close to the border with Derbyshire. In 2001 the parish had a population of 598.-The village:...
, ElfordElfordElford is a village and civil parish in Lichfield District, Staffordshire, England. It is situated on the east bank of the River Tame, about east of the City of Lichfield and 5 miles north of Tamworth.-Origins:...
, ElmhurstElmhurst, StaffordshireElmhurst is a small village and civil parish within Lichfield District, in Staffordshire, England. It is located approximately 1.5 miles north of Lichfield. The village is rural in nature consisting of a few farms and a small amount of private houses... - FarewellFarewell and ChorleyFarewell and Chorley is a civil parish in Lichfield District, Staffordshire, England. The villages of Farewell and Chorley, that make up the parish, lie 3 or 4 miles north-west of the City of Lichfield. The parish council is a joint one with Curborough and Elmhurst....
, FazeleyFazeleyFazeley is a small town and civil parish in the District of Lichfield, Staffordshire, England. Fazeley is located on the outskirts of Tamworth and the civil parish of Fazeley also includes Mile Oak and Bonehill....
, FisherwickFisherwickFisherwick is a civil parish in Lichfield District, Staffordshire, England. Located about east of the City of Lichfield, the parish does not include a village, just a scattered collection of farms and houses. The ancient settlement, dating back to the 12th century, and the manor of Fisherwick Park...
, FradleyFradleyFradley is a village and civil parish in Lichfield District, Staffordshire, England, about north-east of the City of Lichfield and 1 mile south-west of Alrewas. Until 1 April 2009 it had been part of the larger parish of Alrewas and Fradley. The parish council is a joint one with Streethay... - GentleshawGentleshawGentleshaw is a village and hamlet in Staffordshire located about midway between Cannock and Lichfield, and about a mile north of Burntwood. Although it is now part of Longdon civil parish, it has a Parish Church and a primary school....
- Hademore, HammerwichHammerwichHammerwich is a village and civil parish in Lichfield District, Staffordshire, England. It is situated to the south east of Burntwood.The name may derive from the Old English hamor and wic , or possibly, 'a smith's workshop' or 'a hammer-making workshop'.Charcoal burning, nail making, agriculture...
, Hamstall RidwareHamstall RidwareHamstall Ridware is a village and civil parish in the district of Lichfield in Staffordshire, England. It is in the Trent Valley, and lies close to the villages of Hill Ridware, Mavesyn Ridware and Pipe Ridware...
, HandsacreHandsacreHandsacre is a village in Staffordshire, England. It is adjacent to the larger village of Armitage.It is roughly five miles north of the city of Lichfield and 3 miles south of the town of Rugeley.-Village Services:...
, HarlastonHarlastonHarlaston is a village and civil parish in Staffordshire, England. It lies on the River Mease, about north of Tamworth. There is an Early English church, dedicated to St Matthew, and a public house, the White Lion....
, HauntonHauntonHaunton is a village in Staffordshire, England. It lies on the River Mease, about north of Tamworth, 1½ miles east of Harlaston and 1 mile west of Clifton Campville.-History:...
, Hill RidwareHill RidwareHill Ridware is a small village situated in the Lichfield district of Staffordshire, England. It is the largest settlement in the civil parish of Mavesyn Ridware....
, Hilliards Cross, Hints, HopwasHopwasHopwas is a village in Staffordshire, England. It lies just over west of Tamworth and east of Lichfield. It is situated where the A51 road crosses both the River Tame and the Coventry Canal... - Kings BromleyKings BromleyKings Bromley is a village and civil parish in Staffordshire, England on the junction of the A515 and the A513 roads. The village lies in Lichfield District, and the council ward of Kings Bromley had a population of 1,651 at the time of the 2001 census, Kings Bromley is a village and civil parish...
- LichfieldLichfieldLichfield is a cathedral city, civil parish and district in Staffordshire, England. One of eight civil parishes with city status in England, Lichfield is situated roughly north of Birmingham...
, Little AstonLittle AstonLittle Aston is an affluent area of the district of Lichfield, in Staffordshire, England. At the last UK census there were 935 homes in the village, well over 10% of which were multi-million pound properties...
, Little Hay, LongdonLongdon, StaffordshireLongdon is a village and civil parish in the District of Lichfield, Staffordshire, England, situated midway between the towns of Rugeley and Lichfield. The parish also includes the nearby villages of Upper Longdon, Longdon Green and Gentleshaw.... - Mavesyn RidwareMavesyn RidwareMavesyn Ridware is a small village and civil parish in Lichfield District, Staffordshire, England. The parish also includes the villages of Hill Ridware, Rake End, Pipe Ridware and Blithbury, all of which lie between the River Trent and a small tributary, the River Blithe...
, Mile OakMile OakMile Oak is a locality forming the northern part of the former parish of Portslade in the north-west corner of the city of Brighton and Hove, England.... - OrgreaveOrgreave, StaffordshireOrgreave is a hamlet in the English county of Staffordshire. It lies in the Trent Valley some north-east of the city of Lichfield, the A513 road runs to the south of the hamlet....
- Pipe Ridware
- Rileyhill
- ShenstoneShenstone, StaffordshireShenstone is a village and civil parish in Staffordshire, England, close to Stonnall and between Lichfield and Birmingham. In a recent survey Shenstone was found to be one of the ten worst places in England for finding single women....
, Stockwell Heath, StonnallStonnallStonnall is a village in Staffordshire, England, close to Shenstone and Aldridge. It is divided into Upper Stonnall and Lower Stonnall, Upper Stonnall being the bulk of the modern village, and Lower Stonnall the more rural farms and cottages to the east of Wallheath Lane...
, StreethayStreethayStreethay is an English village and civil parish adjoining the city of Lichfield, Staffordshire on the east side of the West Coast Main Line railway. The parish council is a joint one with Fradley.-Village amenities:...
, SwinfenSwinfenSwinfen is a small community about two miles south of Lichfield in the civil parish of Swinfen and Packington, Staffordshire.Swinfen is referred to in the Domesday Book of 1086 when the Manor was held by the Bishop of Lichfield.... - Thorpe ConstantineThorpe ConstantineThorpe Constantine is a small village and civil parish in Staffordshire, England. It lies about north-east of Tamworth and 6 miles south-west of Measham. The nucleus of the parish is the Thorpe estate.-History:...
- Upper LongdonUpper LongdonUpper Longdon is a village in the civil parish of Longdon, in the District of Lichfield, Staffordshire, England. It lies about west of Longdon, and just over south of Rugeley, on the borders of Cannock Chase....
- WallWall, StaffordshireWall is a small village and civil parish in Staffordshire, England, just south of Lichfield. It lies on the site of the Roman settlement of Letocetum.The nearby junction of the A5 and A5127 roads and the M6 Toll motorway is often referred to as Wall junction....
, WeefordWeefordWeeford is a village and civil parish located in the Lichfield District of Staffordshire in England. It has a population of 202.The name Weeford is believed to come from the Old English Wēohford or Wēoford, and to mean "Holy ford", or "ford by a heathen temple".The medieval church is dedicated to...
, WhittingtonWhittington, StaffordshireWhittington is a village and civil parish which lies approximately 3 miles south east of Lichfield in the Lichfield district of Staffordshire, England. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 2,591. The parish council is a joint one with Fisherwick...
, WiggintonWigginton, StaffordshireWigginton is a village in the district of Lichfield, in Staffordshire, England. It lies about north of Tamworth.-History:The name Wigginton is believed to come from Old English, and to mean Wicga's farm...
Places of Interest
Adventure and Excitement
Drayton Manor Theme ParkDrayton Manor Theme ParkDrayton Manor Theme Park is a theme park, resort & zoo in the grounds of the former Drayton Manor, near Tamworth in Staffordshire, England.Drayton Manor is best known because it is a theme park and zoo which attracts around 1.4 million people a year. The attraction has a wide selection of rides set...
- A 280 acre theme park and zoo with 35 rides in total, including 5 roller coasters and 4 water rides.- Curborough Sprint Course - A premier motorsport venue for speed sprinting against the clock.
Arts and Entertainment
Lichfield Garrick Theatre - A modern theatre seating 480 people, named after David GarrickDavid GarrickDavid Garrick was an English actor, playwright, theatre manager and producer who influenced nearly all aspects of theatrical practice throughout the 18th century and was a pupil and friend of Dr Samuel Johnson...
who was brought up in Lichfield.
History and Heritage
- Lichfield CathedralLichfield CathedralLichfield Cathedral is situated in Lichfield, Staffordshire, England. It is the only medieval English cathedral with three spires. The Diocese of Lichfield covers all of Staffordshire, much of Shropshire and part of the Black Country and West Midlands...
- The only medieval cathedral in Europe with three spires. The present building was started in 1195, and completed by the building of the Lady Chapel in the 1330s. It replaced a Norman building begun in 1085 which had replaced one, or possibly two, Saxon buildings from the seventh century. - Cathedral CloseCathedral Close, LichfieldThe Cathedral Close is a historic set of buildings surrounding Lichfield Cathedral in Lichfield in the United Kingdom. The Close comprises buildings associated with the cathedral and the clergy which encircle the Cathedral...
- Surrounding the Cathedral with its many fine buildings is one of the most unspoilt in the country. 
Samuel Johnson Birthplace MuseumSamuel Johnson Birthplace MuseumSamuel Johnson Birthplace Museum is a biographical museum and bookshop located in the centre of the city of Lichfield, Staffordshire in the United Kingdom...
- A museum to Samuel Johnson's life, work and personality.- Erasmus Darwin HouseErasmus Darwin HouseErasmus Darwin House in Lichfield, Staffordshire is the former house of the English poet and physician Erasmus Darwin, grandfather of naturalist Charles Darwin. The house is a Grade I listed building....
- Home to Erasmus Darwin, the house was restored to create a museum which opened to the public in 1999. - Lichfield Heritage CentreLichfield Heritage CentreLichfield Heritage Centre is a museum dedicated to the history and heritage of the city of Lichfield. The museum is located on the south side of the market square on the second floor of St Mary's Church in the centre of Lichfield, Staffordshire in the United Kingdom.The museum was opened by the...
- in St Mary's ChurchSt Mary's Church, LichfieldSt Mary's Church is a city centre church in Lichfield, Staffordshire in the United Kingdom, located on the south side the market square. A church is reputed to have been on the present site since at least 1150 but the current building dates from 1870...
in the market square, an exhibition of 2,000 years of Lichfield's history. 
Bishop's PalaceBishop's Palace, LichfieldBishops Palace is a 17th century building situated in the north east corner of the Cathedral Close in Lichfield, Staffordshire in the United Kingdom....
- Built in 1687, the palace was the residence of the Bishop of Lichfield until 1954, it is now used by the Cathedral School.- Milley's Hospital - Located on Beacon Street, it dates back to 1504 and was a women's hospital.
- Hospital of St John Baptist without the BarrsHospital of St John Baptist without the Barrs, LichfieldThe Hospital of St John Baptist without the Barrs is a Grade I listed building and sheltered housing complex with adjacent chapel in the city of Lichfield, Staffordshire in the United Kingdom...
- A distinctive Tudor building with a row of eight brick chimneys. This was built outside the city walls (barrs) to provide accommodation for travellers arriving after the city gates were closed. It now provides home for elderly people and has an adjacent Chapel. - Church of St ChadThe Church of St Chad, LichfieldThe Church of St Chad is a parish church in the area of Stowe in the north of the city of Lichfield, Staffordshire in the United Kingdom. It is a Grade II* Listed Building. The church is located to the north of Stowe Pool on St Chad's Road...
- A 12th century church though extensively restored, on its site is a Holy Well by which St Chad is said to have prayed and used the waters healing properties. - St Michael on Greenhill - Overlooking the city the ancient churchyard is unique as one of the largest in the country at 9 acres (4 ha).
- Christ ChurchChrist Church, LichfieldChrist Church is a parish church in Lichfield, Staffordshire in the United Kingdom. The church is situated in Leamonsley in the south west area of the city...
- An outstanding example of Victorian ecclesiastical architecture and a grade II* listed building. - The Franciscan Friary - The ruins of the former Friary in Lichfield, now classed as a Scheduled Ancient Monument.
- Lichfield Clock TowerLichfield Clock TowerLichfield Clock Tower or Friary Clock Tower is a 19th century Grade II listed clock tower located on 'The Friary' south of Festival Gardens in the city of Lichfield, Staffordshire in the United Kingdom....
- A Grade II listed 19th century clock tower, located south of Festival Gardens. 
LetocetumLetocetumLetocetum is the remains of a Roman settlement. It was an important military staging post and posting station near the junction of Watling Street, the Roman military road to North Wales , and Icknield Street . The site is now within the parish of Wall, Staffordshire, England...
- The remains of a Roman Staging Post and Bath House, in the village of WallWall, StaffordshireWall is a small village and civil parish in Staffordshire, England, just south of Lichfield. It lies on the site of the Roman settlement of Letocetum.The nearby junction of the A5 and A5127 roads and the M6 Toll motorway is often referred to as Wall junction....
, 1 miles (1.6 km) south of the city.- Staffordshire Regiment Museum - 2.5 miles (4 km) east of the city in WhittingtonWhittington, StaffordshireWhittington is a village and civil parish which lies approximately 3 miles south east of Lichfield in the Lichfield district of Staffordshire, England. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 2,591. The parish council is a joint one with Fisherwick...
, the museum covers the regiment's history, activities and members, and include photographs, uniforms, weapons, medals, artifacts, memorabilia and regimental regalia. Outdoors is a replica trench from World War I, and several armoured fighting vehicles. - The Market Square - In the centre of the city of Lichfield, the square contains two statues, one of Samuel Johnson overlooking the house in which he was born, and one of his great friend and biographer, James BoswellJames BoswellJames Boswell, 9th Laird of Auchinleck was a lawyer, diarist, and author born in Edinburgh, Scotland; he is best known for the biography he wrote of one of his contemporaries, the English literary figure Samuel Johnson....
.
Parks and the Great Outdoors
- Beacon ParkBeacon ParkBeacon Park is a public park in the centre of the city of Lichfield, Staffordshire, in the United Kingdom. The park was originally laid out in 1859 in the form of the Museum Gardens adjacent to the newly built Free Museum and Library and has been extended over the years to its current size of...
- An 81 acres (33 ha) public park in the centre of the city, used for many sporting and recreational activities. - Minster PoolMinster PoolMinster Pool is a reservoir located between Bird Street and Dam Street in the heart of the city of Lichfield, Staffordshire in the United Kingdom. The pool lies directly south of Lichfield Cathedral and historically has been important to the defence of the Cathedral Close...
& Stowe PoolStowe PoolStowe Pool is a reservoir located in the city of Lichfield, Staffordshire.The reservoir was built in 1856 by the South Staffordshire Waterworks Co. in order to supply clean water to the Black Country. Before 1856, Stowe Pool existed as a mill pond, with Stowe mill located just to the west of St...
- The two lakes occupying 16 acres in the heart of Lichfield, Stowe Pool is designated a SSSISite of Special Scientific InterestA Site of Special Scientific Interest is a conservation designation denoting a protected area in the United Kingdom. SSSIs are the basic building block of site-based nature conservation legislation and most other legal nature/geological conservation designations in Great Britain are based upon...
site as is it home to native White-Clawed Crayfish. - National Memorial ArboretumNational Memorial ArboretumThe National Memorial Arboretum is a national site of remembrance at Alrewas, near Lichfield, Staffordshire, England. It gives its purpose as:-Origins:...
- 4 miles (6 km) north east of the city in AlrewasAlrewasAlrewas is a large village and civil parish within Lichfield District, in Staffordshire, England. It lies on the A38 road, approximately 5 miles north of Lichfield...
, the arboretum is a national site of remembrance and contains many memorials to the armed services. - Chasewater Country ParkChasewaterChasewater is a 3-square-kilometre reservoir in the parish of Burntwood, in the district of Lichfield, Staffordshire, England. Originally known as Norton Pool, it was created as a canal feeder reservoir in the 18th Century and remains the largest in use in the region today.-History:Work on...
- A country park including a 3-square-kilometre reservoir which hosts a variety of activities including water skiing, sailing, angling and bird watching. The Chasewater habitat also supports several rare plant and animal species. - Chasewater RailwayChasewater RailwayThe Chasewater Railway is a former colliery railway running round the shores of Chasewater in Staffordshire, England. It is now operated as a heritage railway.The line is approximately two miles in length, contained entirely within Chasewater Country Park...
- A 2 mile long, former colliery railway running round the shores of ChasewaterChasewaterChasewater is a 3-square-kilometre reservoir in the parish of Burntwood, in the district of Lichfield, Staffordshire, England. Originally known as Norton Pool, it was created as a canal feeder reservoir in the 18th Century and remains the largest in use in the region today.-History:Work on...
. - Garden of Remembrance - Located next to Lichfield Cathedral and Minster Pool, the garden was opened in 1920 to commemorate soldiers lost in the First World War.
- Gentleshaw CommonGentleshaw CommonGentleshaw Common is situated to the northern side of Burntwood in Staffordshire and is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and contains rare species of heathland plants....
- A Site of Special Scientific InterestSite of Special Scientific InterestA Site of Special Scientific Interest is a conservation designation denoting a protected area in the United Kingdom. SSSIs are the basic building block of site-based nature conservation legislation and most other legal nature/geological conservation designations in Great Britain are based upon...
that contains rare species of heathland plants. - Fradley JunctionFradley JunctionFradley Junction is a canal junction between Fradley and Alrewas near Lichfield, Staffordshire, England and the point at which the Coventry Canal joins the Trent and Mersey Canal....
- A canal junctionJunction (canal)A canal junction is a place at which two or more canal routes converge or diverge. This implies a physical connection between the beds of the two canals as opposed to them crossing on different levels eg via an aqueduct....
between FradleyFradleyFradley is a village and civil parish in Lichfield District, Staffordshire, England, about north-east of the City of Lichfield and 1 mile south-west of Alrewas. Until 1 April 2009 it had been part of the larger parish of Alrewas and Fradley. The parish council is a joint one with Streethay...
and AlrewasAlrewasAlrewas is a large village and civil parish within Lichfield District, in Staffordshire, England. It lies on the A38 road, approximately 5 miles north of Lichfield...
popular with gongoozlerGongoozlerA gongoozler is a person who enjoys watching activity on the canals in the United Kingdom. The term is also often used in a more general way to describe those who have an interest in canals and the canal life, but do not actively participate.-Etymology:...
s and other visitors. Fradley Pool Nature ReserveNature reserveA nature reserve is a protected area of importance for wildlife, flora, fauna or features of geological or other special interest, which is reserved and managed for conservation and to provide special opportunities for study or research...
is adjacent to the junction. - Prince's ParkPrince's ParkPrince's Park is located in the Staffordshire town of Burntwood and is featured in the Guinness Book of Records for being the smallest park in the United Kingdom....
- Located in urntwood], it is featured in the Guinness Book of Records for being the smallest park in the United KingdomUnited KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
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Shopping and Retail
- Three Spires Shopping Centre - The principle shopping area in the heart of Lichfield with over 40 top name stores and 750 parking spaces.
- Heart of the Country Shopping Village - Individual shops and distinctive restaurants, a welcome alternative to high street shopping.
Plans have been approved for Friarsgate, a new £100 million shopping and leisure complex opposite Lichfield City Station. The police station, bus station, Ford garage and multi-storey car park will be demolished to make way for new retail space and leisure facilities consisting of a flagship department store, six-screen cinema, hotel, 37 individual shops, 56 apartments and over 700 car parking spaces.
Staffordshire Hoard Discovery
Discovered in a field near the village of HammerwichHammerwich
Hammerwich is a village and civil parish in Lichfield District, Staffordshire, England. It is situated to the south east of Burntwood.The name may derive from the Old English hamor and wic , or possibly, 'a smith's workshop' or 'a hammer-making workshop'.Charcoal burning, nail making, agriculture...
, near Lichfield City, in Staffordshire
Staffordshire
Staffordshire is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. Part of the National Forest lies within its borders...
, on 5 July 2009, the Staffordshire Hoard
Staffordshire Hoard
The Staffordshire Hoard is the largest hoard of Anglo-Saxon gold and silver metalwork . Discovered in a field near the village of Hammerwich, near Lichfield, in Staffordshire, England on 5 July 2009, it consists of some 3,500 items that are nearly all martial in character...
is the largest hoard of Anglo-Saxon
Anglo-Saxon
Anglo-Saxon may refer to:* Anglo-Saxons, a group that invaded Britain** Old English, their language** Anglo-Saxon England, their history, one of various ships* White Anglo-Saxon Protestant, an ethnicity* Anglo-Saxon economy, modern macroeconomic term...
gold and silver metalwork ever found. It consists of nearly 4,000 items that are nearly all martial in character . The artefacts
Artifact (archaeology)
An artifact or artefact is "something made or given shape by man, such as a tool or a work of art, esp an object of archaeological interest"...
have tentatively been dated to the 7th or 8th centuries, placing the origin of the items in the time of the Kingdom of Mercia
Mercia
Mercia was one of the kingdoms of the Anglo-Saxon Heptarchy. It was centred on the valley of the River Trent and its tributaries in the region now known as the English Midlands...
.
The hoard was valued at £3.285 million, and has now been purchased by the Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery
Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery
Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery is a museum and art gallery in Birmingham, England.Entrance to the Museum and Art Gallery is free, but some major exhibitions in the Gas Hall incur an entrance fee...
and the Potteries Museum & Art Gallery
Potteries Museum & Art Gallery
The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery is in Hanley, one of the six towns of Stoke-on-Trent in Staffordshire. Admission is free.One of the four local authority museums in the City, the other three being Gladstone Pottery Museum, Ford Green Hall and Etruria Industrial Museum, The Potteries Museum & Art...
where items from the hoard are displayed.
During 2011, The Staffordshire Hoard on Tour is bringing more than 40 star pieces of the hoard to Stafford, Lichfield and Tamworth. The tour will stop at Shire Hall Gallery in Stafford
Stafford
Stafford is the county town of Staffordshire, in the West Midlands region of England. It lies approximately north of Wolverhampton and south of Stoke-on-Trent, adjacent to the M6 motorway Junction 13 to Junction 14...
from the 2nd-24th July, at Lichfield Cathedral
Lichfield Cathedral
Lichfield Cathedral is situated in Lichfield, Staffordshire, England. It is the only medieval English cathedral with three spires. The Diocese of Lichfield covers all of Staffordshire, much of Shropshire and part of the Black Country and West Midlands...
from 30th July to 21st August and at Tamworth Castle
Tamworth Castle
Tamworth Castle, a Grade I listed building, is a Norman castle, located next to the River Tame, in the town of Tamworth in Staffordshire, England....
from 27th August to 18th.