Lichfield Heritage Centre
Encyclopedia
Lichfield 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 Earl of Lichfield
on 30th May 1981 when the 19th century city centre church was converted into a multi-purpose building to serve the community. The newly formed second floor of the church was dedicated to a museum and heritage exhibition dedicated to the history of Lichfield. The museum is run mainly by volunteers and is an independent Registered Charity
and financially self-supporting.
and The Staffordshire Regiment. Also viewable is the Lichfield Heritage Collection which features over 6000 photographs; negatives; newspapers; reports; leaflets and other interesting memorabilia from the past 150 years. There is a muniment room which features some of the oldest objects in the collection including the City's ancient charters, the earliest being Queen Mary`s
Charter of 1553 followed by several others over the centuries, right up to Elizabeth II. The Guild Book of St Mary's Guild of 1387 - 1680 is the oldest document exhibited. There are also two audio-visual presentations which feature stories into Lichfield's ancient past, the building of the Cathedral
and the sieges during the Civil War
.
The newest exhibition is the Staffordshire Millennium Embroideries, a unique representation of a thousand years of Staffordshire's history, embroidered in silk, wool, cotton, metallic thread and leather, one panel for each century of the Millennium. This inspired work was created solely by Mrs Sylvia Everitt of Rawnsley, near Cannock
, who made these embroideries over five years of dedicated work as her gift to the people of Staffordshire in commemoration of the Millennium. She toured the county for several years giving lectures about her embroideries before donating them to the Lichfield Heritage Centre where they are now permanently displayed in a specially designed Gallery. For her work Sylvia was awarded the MBE in 2002.
Tours are available to the top of St Mary's 158 year old spire to a viewing platform 40m above the market square with views over the city and surrounding countryside. There is a coffee shop and gift shop on the ground floor at the exit of the museum. The museum is open 7 days a week from 09:30 until 16:00.
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 museum is located on the south side of the market square on the second floor of St Mary's Church
St Mary's Church, Lichfield
St 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 centre of Lichfield, 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...
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The 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...
.
The museum was opened by the Earl of Lichfield
Earl of Lichfield
Earl of Lichfield is a title that has been created three times in British history. Lord Bernard Stewart, youngest son of Esmé Stewart, 1st Duke of Lennox, was to be created Earl of Lichfield by Charles I for his actions at the battles of Newbury and Naseby but died before the creation could...
on 30th May 1981 when the 19th century city centre church was converted into a multi-purpose building to serve the community. The newly formed second floor of the church was dedicated to a museum and heritage exhibition dedicated to the history of Lichfield. The museum is run mainly by volunteers and is an independent Registered Charity
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
and financially self-supporting.
Features and Exhibitions
The museum features a treasury exhibition, were can be seen chalices, goblets and centrepieces from the city, Diocese of LichfieldDiocese of Lichfield
The Diocese of Lichfield is a Church of England diocese in the Province of Canterbury, England. The bishop's seat is located in the Cathedral Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Saint Chad in the city of Lichfield. The diocese covers 4,516 km² The Diocese of Lichfield is a Church of England...
and The Staffordshire Regiment. Also viewable is the Lichfield Heritage Collection which features over 6000 photographs; negatives; newspapers; reports; leaflets and other interesting memorabilia from the past 150 years. There is a muniment room which features some of the oldest objects in the collection including the City's ancient charters, the earliest being Queen Mary`s
Mary I of England
Mary I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from July 1553 until her death.She was the only surviving child born of the ill-fated marriage of Henry VIII and his first wife Catherine of Aragon. Her younger half-brother, Edward VI, succeeded Henry in 1547...
Charter of 1553 followed by several others over the centuries, right up to Elizabeth II. The Guild Book of St Mary's Guild of 1387 - 1680 is the oldest document exhibited. There are also two audio-visual presentations which feature stories into Lichfield's ancient past, the building of the 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...
and the sieges during the Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
.
The newest exhibition is the Staffordshire Millennium Embroideries, a unique representation of a thousand years of Staffordshire's history, embroidered in silk, wool, cotton, metallic thread and leather, one panel for each century of the Millennium. This inspired work was created solely by Mrs Sylvia Everitt of Rawnsley, near Cannock
Cannock
Cannock is the most populous of three towns in the district of Cannock Chase in the central southern part of the county of Staffordshire in the West Midlands region of England....
, who made these embroideries over five years of dedicated work as her gift to the people of Staffordshire in commemoration of the Millennium. She toured the county for several years giving lectures about her embroideries before donating them to the Lichfield Heritage Centre where they are now permanently displayed in a specially designed Gallery. For her work Sylvia was awarded the MBE in 2002.
Tours are available to the top of St Mary's 158 year old spire to a viewing platform 40m above the market square with views over the city and surrounding countryside. There is a coffee shop and gift shop on the ground floor at the exit of the museum. The museum is open 7 days a week from 09:30 until 16:00.